SCOTLAND

Devolution

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent devolution issues the Advocate-General has considered; and if he will make a statement.

David Mundell: Since the reporting year began on l April the Advocate General and his predecessor have received 143 devolution notices, 136 of which are in criminal cases and seven in civil cases. In the same period the Advocate General has continued monitoring more than 40 devolution cases, has been represented in court in three, and is currently involved as intervenor in two cases.
	In addition to his work on devolution issues as defined in the Scotland Act, the Advocate General works closely with the Attorney General to advise Government Departments on a wide range of legal matters.

Devolution

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the First Minister on the devolution settlement.

Michael Moore: I had my first meeting with the First Minister on 7 June, followed by a Joint Ministerial Committee on 8 June. The First Minister and I discussed a range of issues relating to the devolution settlement, including our proposals to implement recommendations from the final report of the Commission on Scottish Devolution.

General Election

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the First Minister on the Government's plans to schedule a general election on the first Thursday of May 2015.

Michael Moore: The issue of the planned 2015 general election was raised at the Joint Ministerial Committee on 8 June, which I attended with the First Minister.

Scotland Office

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for the future of the Scotland Office.

Michael Moore: The Scotland Office will take forward the Coalition Government's commitment to implement the recommendations of the Calman Commission. It will also play a central role in the Coalition Government's constructive engagement with our partners in the Devolved Administrations. The Scotland Office will continue to ensure that Scotland's interests are understood and represented in Westminster and Whitehall, and it will ensure that the Government's policies in reserved areas are understood in Scotland.

Royal Mail

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the Royal Mail on mail deliveries and post offices in Scotland.

Michael Moore: We will ensure that post offices are allowed to offer a wide range of services in order to sustain the network, and we will be working with Post Office Ltd. to develop new sources of revenue, including considering the case for a Post Office Bank.

Departmental Internet

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the URL is of each website managed by his Department.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office manages one website. The URL for the Scotland Office website is:
	www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk

Departmental Official Cars

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his policy is on the use by Ministers in his Department of cars allocated from  (a) his Department's pool and  (b) the Government car pool which are manufactured in the UK; whether Ministers in his Department are entitled to request the use of a car manufactured in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

David Mundell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on Monday 14 June 2010,  Official Report, column 290W.

PRIME MINISTER

10 Downing Street: Visits

John Mann: To ask the Prime Minister how many requests by hon. Members from each party for their constituents to be given a tour of No. 10 Downing Street have been  (a) made and  (b) granted since the Government came into office.

David Cameron: I hope that as many people as possible will be able to have a tour of 10 Downing street, including children and individuals from a wide cross-section of the community.

Andy Coulson and Jonny Oates

Tom Watson: To ask the Prime Minister to what  (a) expenses,  (b) allowances and  (c) pension provision his Director of Communications is entitled.

David Cameron: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I made on 10 June 2010,  Official Report, column 32WS.

Andy Coulson and Jonny Oates

Tom Watson: To ask the Prime Minister whether  (a) Andy Coulson and  (b) Jonny Oates (i) have been subject to positive vetting and (ii) will have access to situation reports from military commanders.

David Cameron: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I made on 10 June 2010,  Official Report, column 32WS and my answer of 3 June 2010,  Official Report, column 99W.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Manpower

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) special advisers and  (b) press officers are employed by his Department; and at what civil service pay grade in each such case.

Owen Paterson: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Prime Minister on 10 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 32-34W. The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) employs one special adviser at pay band 2 (special advisers are not subject to civil service pay grades).
	My Department also employs three press officers; one senior civil servant, one at B1 grade and one at B2 grade.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Early Day Motions

Iain Wright: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the House of Commons Commission what the cost of administering and processing early day motions was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Stuart Bell: The estimated cost to the House of administering and processing early day motions (EDMs) in financial year 2009-10 was approximately £1 million.
	Most of this cost was accounted for by printing and publication of early day motions, amendments to them, and names added to them, under the House's contract with TSO. This cost nearly £776,000 in 2009-10.
	Expenditure is incurred on staff time to process and input notices relating to early day motions, and to index that material. Staff who deal with EDMs also undertake other duties, but a rough estimate of the full salary costs incurred from the estimated amount of their time spent on EDMs, including employer's pension contribution and national insurance, is of the order of £150,000 for 2009-10.
	In addition, technical support for the EDMi database and the Table Office's software application for processing EDMs cost approximately £87,000 in 2009-10.

Early Day Motions

Iain Wright: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the House of Commons Commission how many early day motions had  (a) between one and five,  (b) between six and 10,  (c) between 11 and 50,  (d) between 51 and 100 and  (e) over 100 signatures at the end of each of the last five parliamentary sessions.

Stuart Bell: The figures are as follows:
	
		
			   Number of signatories  
			  Session  1 to 5  6 to 10  11 to 50  51 to 100  Over 100  Total number of EDMs 
			 2005-06 79 124 1,429 933 357 2,922 
			 2006-07 67 91 1,110 670 255 2,193 
			 2007-08 101 171 1,403 690 194 2,559 
			 2008-09 80 107 1,370 544 170 2,271 
			 2009-10 51 93 719 289 95 1,247 
		
	
	Session 2005-06 was a long session following a general election; Session 2009-10 was a short session preceding a general election.
	Early day motions are classified in the table above by the number of signatures which they had on their last day as valid motions: in nearly all cases this will be the number of signatures which they had on the last day of each session, but for those motions withdrawn or debated in the course of each session the number of signatures given is the number on the last day on which the motion had the status of an early day motion.
	For some sessions the figure for the total number of motions differs from the figure given in the House's sessional returns: this is because the sessional returns figures include motions tabled and then withdrawn in the course of the same sitting day. Such motions are assigned an early day motion number which is not re-used, but do not appear in print as valid notices of motions.

Early Day Motions

Iain Wright: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the House of Commons Commission how many early day motions were tabled in each parliamentary session since 2000-01.

Stuart Bell: The total number of early day motions (EDMs) tabled each session is published in the House's sessional returns, available at:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmsesret.htm
	For some sessions the totals given include one or two EDMs which were tabled and withdrawn on the same sitting day, and so were given an EDM number but never appeared in print.
	The figures for each session since 2000-01, together with the average number tabled per sitting day to enable comparisons to be made between sessions of differing lengths, are as follows:
	
		
			   Total  Ave rage  per sitting day 
			 2000-01 659 7.9 
			 2001-02 1,864 9.3 
			 2002-03 1,939 12 
			 2003-04 1,941 12.4 
			 2004-05 1,033 15.9 
			 2005-06 2,924 14.1 
			 2006-07 2,193 15 
			 2007-08 2,560 15.5 
			 2008-09 2,272 16.7 
			 2009-10 1,248 18.1 
		
	
	Sessions 2000-01, 2004-05 and 2009-10 were short pre-general election sessions; Sessions 2001-02 and 2005-06 were long post-general election sessions.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan: Corruption

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent progress has been made in reducing levels of corruption in Afghanistan.

Andrew Mitchell: In 'The Coalition: our programme for government', the UK Government laid out our commitment to "support efforts to tackle corruption".
	At the London Conference in January the Government of Afghanistan made a number of key commitments to address corruption. Since the London Conference a number of these commitments have already been delivered by the Government of Afghanistan, including increased powers and independence for an Afghan anti-corruption commission (the High Office of Oversight (HOO)) and the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Tribunal.
	In addition the Government of Afghanistan has begun compiling asset declarations of Government Ministers and officials. Thus far assets belonging to 18 previous Cabinet Ministers and over 1,200 public officials have been registered. A significant reduction in the number of procedures required to register a vehicle from 51 to four has also been implemented, which reduces the scope and opportunity for corruption.
	Through UK support to the EU Police Mission in Afghanistan (EUPOL) we are mentoring and supporting the Ministry of Interior Inspector General in 28 alleged anti-corruption cases involving approximately 118 suspects.

Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what  (a) programmes his Department supports and  (b) discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues in other Government Departments on the global eradication of tuberculosis.

Andrew Mitchell: The UK remains strongly committed to reducing death and suffering from tuberculosis. The Department for International Development (DFID) invests in a broad range of actions to combat tuberculosis (TB) from TB specific programmes, to strengthening health systems and strategies to address poverty and inequity. DFID uses a variety of channels including country programmes, support to the Stop TB Partnership, UNITAID and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, and through research partnerships. We see this as the best way of tackling the many challenges posed by TB.
	I have not yet met ministerial colleagues in other Government Departments to discuss TB, but expect to do so in due course.
	We are currently reviewing all our aid, including aid channelled through multilateral agencies to ensure it is as effective as possible and brings real benefit to the world's poor.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children: Maintenance

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to ensure that payments made through the Child Support Agency contribute directly towards the welfare of children.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to ensure that payments made through the Child Support Agency are going directly towards the welfare of children.
	A fundamental aim of the child support system is that it should contribute to the reduction of child poverty by increasing the proportion of parents who meet their financial obligations to their children.
	All parents who live apart from their children have a legal duty to contribute financially to their upkeep and the Child Support Agency (CSA) was set up to ensure that parents comply with these requirements. The CSA assesses Child Maintenance liability on the basis of a non-resident parent's income and transfers payments to the person who is responsible for the child's day to day care. The regular receipt of maintenance increases the range of choices that are open to parents with care, for example, allowing them to take up employment and improve their families' standard of living.
	In carrying out its functions the CSA has regard to the welfare of all children that may be affected by its decisions. This includes any children who may be living with the non-resident parent. However, it is not the role of the CSA to monitor how a person with care spends any child maintenance payments made by the non-resident parent. Where a person with day to day responsibility for a child fails to provide them with adequate care, there are other organisations with expertise in this area who can assist as required.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Departmental Flags

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on flying the Union flag each day from each official building for which his Department is responsible.

Chris Grayling: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport issues the guidance for the flying of the Union flag on UK Government buildings. The guidance encourages the Union flag to be flown 365 days a year, and as a minimum all Departments must fly the Union flag on the 19 special designated days e.g. the Queen's Birthday, Remembrance Day, etc. and other special occasions as required e.g. State Opening of Parliament. More information on the guidance is available on the DCMS website:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/honours/7124.aspx
	My Department flies the Union Flag on the 19 designated days and on other special days as required. We also fly the flag on every day of the year at the Department's London Headquarters building, Caxton House and the Adelphi.

Future Jobs Fund

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of young people who have been placed into training, employment or work experience through the Future Jobs Fund are  (a) registered disabled,  (b) women and  (c) from a minority ethnic background.

Chris Grayling: The latest Official Statistics show that:
	 (a) 14% of the job starters are recorded as having a disability,
	 (b) 26% of the job starters are female,
	 (c) 14% of the job starters are from an ethnic minority background.

Housing Benefit

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to amend the regulations on the award of local housing allowance to  (a) registered drug addicts and  (b) those undergoing treatment for alcoholism.

Maria Miller: We have no plans to amend the housing benefit regulations in the manner described.

Housing Benefit

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to amend the regulations on  (a) the award of local housing allowance and  (b) the payment of local housing allowance to landlords in 2010.

Maria Miller: The Department concluded its consultation on reforms to housing benefit earlier this year. The Government are considering the responses to the consultation and will bring forward proposals to ensure that housing benefit under the local housing allowance arrangements is fair and affordable while giving tenants access to reasonable accommodation.
	A review of the first two years' operation of the local housing allowance arrangements is being undertaken to monitor the impact of the local housing allowance at a national level. The review aims to cover a range of issues including direct payment to tenants and will report later this year. Changes to the payment arrangements will be considered in the light of that report.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Official Cars

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what his policy is on the use by Ministers in his Department of cars allocated from  (a) his Department's pool and  (b) the Government car pool which are manufactured in the UK; whether Ministers in his Department are entitled to request the use of a car manufactured in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary under Secretary of State (Roads and Motoring) (Mike Penning) on 14 June 2010,  Official Report , columns 290-1W.

Digital Broadcasting: Oxfordshire

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions his Department has had with  (a) Digital UK and  (b) broadcasters on compensation to viewers in respect of disruption to television reception in Oxfordshire arising from works on the Beckley transmitter.

Jeremy Hunt: The Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries has discussed this matter with Digital UK, which provides public information about switchover on behalf of the public service broadcasters. It is regrettable that some viewers are suffering disruption to their TV services, but I am reassured by Digital UK that the mast operator, Arqiva, is doing everything possible to build the new antenna and get it in place as soon as possible, and that full services should be restored by the end of September, weather permitting.
	In the intervening period, those affected should still be able to receive some services. Compensation is not payable to viewers who experienced limited disruption to their television reception due to engineering works of this kind. For completeness, I should add that, where there is a complete loss of TV services, there are circumstances where a licence fee refund may be available but we are not aware of any such cases.

Supporters Direct

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with the  (a) Football Association,  (b) Football League and  (c) Premier League on supporters' trusts;
	(2)  whether he plans to meet representatives of Supporters Direct;
	(3)  what funding his Department plans to provide to Supporters Direct in the 2010-11 financial year.

Hugh Robertson: I have had no official meetings with the football authorities or Supporters Direct on the subject of supporters' trusts. While my officials remain in regular contact with the football authorities and Supporters Direct, I anticipate that there will be an opportunity for me to meet them in the near future.
	The Government currently have no plans to fund Supporters Direct.

WALES

Pensioners: Poverty

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State +for Wales what her most recent estimate is of the number of pensioners living in poverty in Wales.

David Jones: The most commonly used measure of poverty relates to those with incomes below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income, after housing costs.
	The latest figures for Wales are published in the "Households Below Average Income series". Three-year averages are used to report regional statistics as single-year estimates are subject to volatility. Figures show that for the period 2006-07 to 2008-09 there were around an estimated 18% of all pensioners in Wales in poverty, corresponding to around 100,000 pensioners. Figures are quoted to the nearest 100,000 and percentages are quoted to the nearest whole percentage point. The three year average of 18% of pensioners in relative poverty in Wales is the same level as the current UK three year average.
	This Government will restore the earnings link for the basic state pension from April 2011, with a 'triple guarantee' that pensions are raised by the highest of earnings, prices or 2.5%.
	We will help prevent people from falling into poverty in later life by simplifying the rules and regulations relating to pensions to help reinvigorate occupational pensions. We will encourage companies to offer high-quality pensions to all employees and will work with businesses and the industry to support auto enrolment.

TRANSPORT

Manchester Metrolink

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  when he estimates the extension work to phases 3a and 3b of the Manchester Metrolink will be completed;
	(2)  what evaluation has been made of the cost to the economy of not completing phases 3a and 3b of the extension to Manchester Metrolink;
	(3)  how much has been spent from the public purse on phases 3a and 3b of the Manchester Metrolink extension.

Norman Baker: holding answer 15 June 2010
	Manchester Metrolink Phase 3a is currently under construction and is expected to open in late 2011.
	Metrolink 3b is currently under review following the announcement by Her Majesty's Treasury on 17 May 2010 which asked for all spending approvals granted since 1 January 2010 to be re-examined. If the project subsequently receives re-approval it is expected that the two extensions will be completed by early 2014.
	No evaluation or technical analysis has been undertaken on the economic costs of Phases 3a or 3b if these were not completed.
	The Department for Transport has to date provided capital funding of £129.6 million for Phase 3a and £10.241 million for 3b. These figures exclude any costs incurred by the Department on the assessment of the two Metrolink Phases. It also does not include any public expenditure incurred by the promoter, Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive.

Transport: Oxford

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to maintain the £88 million Access to Oxford funding for local transport schemes.

Norman Baker: In his written ministerial statement to the House on 10 June, "Transport: Local Authority Major Schemes", the Secretary of State for Transport announced that the Department would not support further work on major investment schemes until after the Government's spending review is concluded and the departmental budget is settled.

Transport: Schools

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on assessing the suitability of section 19 permit holders in the provision of home-to-school transport; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) publishes an on-line guide entitled "Passenger transport provided under Section 19 or Section 22 permits". This is available on the agency's website:
	www.vosa.gov.uk

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum: Children

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many unaccompanied child asylum seekers were deported to each destination from the UK in each month over the last five years.

Damian Green: Our statistics do not record the number of unaccompanied children removed separately from the number of children removed as part of a family group. The number of unaccompanied children removed is, however, very small and generally confined to those returned to EU countries under Dublin convention procedures or the few that can be returned direct to their parents.

Asylum: Children

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government plans to review arrangements for the removal of unaccompanied child asylum seekers from the UK.

Damian Green: We are looking to expand the reintegration assistance we make available to adult returnees who we remove to Afghanistan, in order to make it suitable for a limited number of males aged 16 or 17. This should result in some of this age group being returned but this will depend on individual assessments of their circumstances.
	We are constantly monitoring the range of assistance available for returnees to a variety of countries. In respect of young people under 18, our preference is to return them direct to their parents. Only when that is not possible do we need to look to provide interim assistance on return while onward passage to parents or family is arranged.

Borders: Security

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has for the use of vehicular x-ray scanners by the UK Border Agency.

Damian Green: UKBA currently has 15 freight scanners. Of these, 13 are mobile. The deployment, use and effectiveness of these scanners is continually assessed, as is the level of risk they are deployed to combat. The scanners and supporting resources are deployed according to risk.
	All current scanners have been specified to safely detect a wide range of commodities including prohibited items, fiscal goods and concealed persons. This capability allows UKBA to effectively address risk with the minimum disruption to legitimate trade.

Borders: Security

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the UK Border Agency budget was spent on vehicular x-ray scanners in the latest period for which figures are available.

Damian Green: During the 2009-10 Fiscal Year, £9,771,389 capital was spent on the purchase of seven mobile and two fixed freight scanners. £2,290,343 was spent on servicing and maintaining the UKBA fleet of 15 units.
	This expenditure represents five per cent. of the UKBA capital budget allocation for 2009-10.

British Citizenship: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those resident in the London borough of Bexley have been granted British citizenship in each year since 2005.

Damian Green: Details of the number of grants of British Citizenship for the years requested are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Persons, resident in the London borough of Bexley( 1) , Granted British Citizenship( 2) , 2005 to 2009 
			   Total 
			 2005 710 
			 2006 740 
			 2007 730 
			 2008 505 
			 2009 910 
			 (1) Persons resident within the London borough of Bexley postcode areas and/or who attended a citizenship ceremony held by Bexley local authority. (2) Total number of grants is made up of those who have attended a citizenship ceremony, minors who are not required to attend a citizenship ceremony and adults who have been registered as British Citizens and who are not required to attend a ceremony. 
		
	
	This information has been provided from local management information and is not a National Statistic. As such it should be treated as provisional and therefore subject to change.

Deportation: Offenders

Richard Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the 1,023 failed asylum applicants released from prison who were referred to in the then Home Secretary's announcement of 25 April 2006 are unaccounted for.

Damian Green: holding answer 15 June 2010
	 After analysis the figure of 1,023 foreign national prisoners (not exclusively failed asylum seekers) released without deportation consideration was revised in July 2006 to 1,013.
	The chief executive of the UK Border Agency has regularly updated the Home Affairs Select Committee on the progress of these cases. In her latest letter of 4 February 2010, figures accurate as at 4 January 2010 showed;
	
		
			   Number 
			 Cases concluded 782 
			 Of whom have been deported or removed 371 
			 Cases still going through the deportation process 125 
			 Individuals serving a custodial sentence 25 
			 Not located 81 
			 Total 1,013 
		
	
	Copies of the letters to the Committee can be found in the Library of the House.

Entry Clearances: Indonesia

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visitor visa applications were received by the UK Visa Application centre in Jakarta in the last 12 months; how many such applications were  (a) refused (i) because required supporting documentation was not provided, (ii) although required supporting documentation was provided and (iii) because required financial documentation was not provided,  (b) granted with only the supporting documentation required on the application form being provided and  (c) granted following the provision of additional financial information; how much income Jakarta Visa Centre received from (A) initial and (B) subsequent applications in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: The number of visit visa applications received, approved and refused in Jakarta in FY 2009-10 is shown in the following table, along with the income received from such applications.
	
		
			  Visit visa applications, Jakarta-financial year 2009-10 
			   Number  £ 
			 Applications received 15,902 - 
			 Visas issued 14,824 - 
			 Applications refused 1,023 - 
			 Income - 1,239,582 
		
	
	We are unable to identify from central records how many applications were:
	 (a) refused because (i) required supporting documentation was not provided, (ii) even though adequate supporting documentation was provided, or (iii) adequate financial documentation was not provided;
	 (b) granted without further supporting documentation being provided; and
	 (c) granted following the provision of additional financial information.
	Such information could be provided only by inspecting individual records, and therefore at disproportionate cost.
	 Notes:
	1. The total of visas issued and applications refused does not equal the total number received. A number of applications resolved in FY 2009-10 would have been received in the previous FY, and a number received in FY 2009-10 would have been resolved in FY 2010-11. A small number of applications received would also have been withdrawn by the applicant.
	2. This data is based on Management Information and as such has not been quality assured. It is provisional and subject to change.

Forensic Science Service

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the budget of the Forensic Science Service (FSS) was in each financial year since 2005-06; and what the projected budget for the FSS is in 2010-11.

James Brokenshire: The Forensic Science Service is a Government owned limited company. The FSS charges its customers (mainly the police forces of England and Wales) for its services, and endeavours to manage its costs within the funds collected.
	The FSS published accounts are available to the public and include the profit and loss accounts, balance sheet and cash flow statement; they do not include the FSS internal budgets which are commercially sensitive.

Identity Cards

Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions Ministers in her Department have had with the Identity and Passport Service on identity cards since 10 May 2010.

Damian Green: Home Office Ministers have undertaken a number of discussions with the Identity and Passport Service on identity cards and discussions continue in preparation for the Identity Documents Bill.

Identity Cards

Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many identity cards had been issued to British citizens on 31 May 2010; and how many people have registered for an appointment to enrol their biometric information but not received an identity card.

Damian Green: Approximately 14,000 identity cards had been issued to British citizens by 31 May 2010.
	It is not possible to give the number of people who registered for an appointment but who did not receive an identity card as the information held on the appointment booking system is not directly comparable with that held on the National Identity Register.

Identity Cards

Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the monetary value of payments which will be required to pay to companies contracted to undertake work on identity cards, biometric technology and development of the national identity database consequent on the ending of the identity cards and national identity schemes.

Damian Green: The cost implications of terminating and amending certain National Identity Service contracts are currently a matter of commercial negotiation with suppliers, to protect taxpayers' interests. It is therefore not possible to give a breakdown of the cost of cancelling those contracts at this time.

Identity Cards

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many residents of each  (a) parliamentary constituency and  (b) region have bought an identity card.

Damian Green: The Identity and Passport Service is not able to provide information relating to particular constituencies or regions for identity card applications. However, as of 14 June 2010, there have been just fewer than 15,000 identity cards issued in the United Kingdom.

Identity Cards

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many identity cards have been issued on a voluntary basis to applicants in  (a) the North West and  (b) Blackpool.

Damian Green: holding answer 15 June 2010
	The Identity and Passport Service is not able to provide information relating to particular constituencies or regions for identity card applications. However, as of 14 June 2010, there have been fewer than 15,000 identity cards issued in the United Kingdom.

Illegal Immigrants

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her most recent estimate is of the number of illegal migrants in the UK; what recent research she has evaluated on this subject; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: It is not possible to accurately quantify the number of illegal immigrants in the UK as some will deliberately evade immigration control to enter and stay in the country illegally.
	I am aware of research by the London School of Economics (LSE) in May 2009 which gave a central estimate for the total irregular migrant population in the UK as at the end of 2007 of 618,000 (1.0% of UK population) within a range of 417,000 to 863,000. Estimating methodologies vary and I have noted that the LSE 2007 estimate used the estimate prepared from April 2001 census figures which gave a central figure of 430,000 (0.7% of UK population within a range of 310,000 to 570,000) as its starting point and then added further assumptions. For example it included estimates for the UK-born children of irregular migrants which were not included in the original report.
	The LSE report is available to view at:
	http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/LSELondon/pdf/irregular%20migrants%20full%20report.pdf
	and a copy of the Home Office Research Development and Statistics report (29/05) "Sizing the unauthorised (illegal) migrant population in the United Kingdom in 2001" can be found at:
	http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/rdsolr2905.pdf
	The wider immigration programme, contained in "The Coalition: our programme for government" published on 20 May, includes a commitment to support e-Borders and re-introduce entry and exit checks.

Immigration Controls

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many annual allocations of certificates of sponsorship were requested by employers for the second year of the points-based system in respect of (a) Tier Two general and (b) Tier Two ICT.

Damian Green: holding answer 14 June 2010
	The UK Border Agency is unable to provide the information requested. The annual renewal date for allocation of certificates of sponsorship is linked to the date an individual sponsor was granted a licence and is different for each sponsor.

Immigration Controls

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were granted permission  (a) in-country and  (b) overseas to work in the UK under each category of Tier One and Tier Two of the points-based system in 2009; and how many associated dependants there were of people in each category.

Damian Green: holding answer 14 June 2010
	The available information relates to Tier 1 and Tier 2 visas issued overseas to main applicants and their dependants and in-country grants of leave to remain to Tier 1 and Tier 2 main applicants. This information is published in Tables 1.1 and 4.1 in the Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary, United Kingdom, January-March 2010 which is available in the Library of the House and the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
	Statistics on in-country grants of leave to remain to dependants for 2009 are due to be published on 26 August in the April-June 2010 Quarterly Statistical Summary.

Immigration: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for leave to remain were received from those resident in  (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and  (b) the London borough of Bexley in the last 12 months.

Damian Green: The following tables shows the number of leave to remain applications received from addresses in Bexleyheath, Crayford and the London borough of Bexley between 1 June 2009 and 31 April 2010.
	
		
			  Leave to remain applications received for Bexleyheath and Crayford 1 June 2009 to 31 April 2010 
			   Number of applications 
			 Bexleyheath 70 
			 Crayford 155 
			 Total 225 
		
	
	
		
			  Leave to remain applications received for the London borough of Bexley 1 June 2009 to 31 April 2010 
			   Number of applications 
			 Borough of Bexley 2,260 
			  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest five. Data relates to main applicants only and does not include dependants. 
		
	
	The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.

Immigration: Gurkhas

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the English language requirement for those wishing to settle in the UK will apply to former members of the Brigade of Gurkhas.

Damian Green: holding answer 15 June 2010
	 Former members of the Brigade of Gurkhas and their dependants who apply for settlement under the concession introduced in May 2009 are not required to demonstrate language ability as part of the application process.
	The recent announcement by the Home Secretary on 9 June 2010 proposed new language requirements for those seeking entry to the UK as either a spouse or civil partner, fiancé or proposed civil partner, unmarried partner or same sex partner of a British citizen or someone who is present and settled in the UK.
	Former members of the Brigade of Gurkhas will continue to be exempt from the language requirement when applying under the concession. The impact of the Home Secretary's recent proposals on the dependants of settled Gurkhas is yet to be finalised.

Immigration: Gurkhas

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many former members of the Brigade of Gurkhas have chosen to settle in the UK since the change in the immigration rules; and at what cost to the public purse.

Damian Green: holding answer 15 June 2010
	Since the new policy was announced in May 2009, the UK Border Agency has issued 2610 settlement visas to pre-1997 discharged ex-Gurkhas who previously would not have qualified. The agency does not hold information on how many of those have actually settled here. Statistics are not routinely collected of the annual cost of welfare payments for Gurkhas who choose to settle in the UK upon discharge. However, in terms of estimates, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given in the House of Lords by Lord West of Spithead on 10 December 2009,  Official  Report , House of Lords, column WA155.

Immigration: Married People

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any language requirements apply to migrant spouses from other EU countries seeking to settle in the UK.

Damian Green: holding answer 15 June 2010
	On 9 June, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced a new language requirement for those seeking entry to the UK as either a spouse or civil partner, fiancé or proposed civil partner, unmarried partner or same sex partner of a British citizen or someone who is present and settled in the UK.
	The new language requirement will not apply to spouses of European economic area nationals or spouses who are European economic area nationals applying for the right to reside under the EU free movement directive. Spouses of EEA nationals and spouses who are European economic area nationals are required to demonstrate knowledge of English language and life in the UK if they apply for British citizenship.

Immobilisation of Vehicles

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make it her policy to ensure that drivers disputing a fine issued in relation to the immobilisation of a vehicle on private land have recourse to an independent body.

Lynne Featherstone: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given on 15 June 2010,  Official Report, column 385W.

Immobilisation of Vehicles

Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what cap she plans to place on the charge levied by vehicle immobilisation businesses for the release of a vehicle.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government included in their coalition agreement, published on 12 May, a commitment to tackle the menace of rogue private sector wheel clampers, and is looking at all available options. An announcement on how we will do this will be made in due course.

Passports: Missing Applications

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passport applications are known to have gone missing in the post in  (a) 2005,  (b) 2006,  (c) 2007,  (d) 2008 and  (e) 2009.

Damian Green: IPS does not keep records of how many passport applications have gone missing in the post.

Stansted Airport: Security

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to reduce queues and waiting times of passengers on arrival at Stansted Airport.

Damian Green: United Kingdom Border Force has a continuing dialogue with British Airport Authority managers at Stansted to monitor the arrival of passengers to the United Kingdom through the airport. The queues are regularly measured and meet with the approved target waiting times outlined in the local service level agreement with Stansted Airport Limited.

UK Border Agency: Dover Port

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans her Department has for the continuance of Operation Evian by the UK Border Agency in Dover.

Damian Green: The Department is committed to the continuation of activity under the Evian Administrative Agreement although this agreement focuses mainly on actions in France rather than Dover. This agreement confirms both the French and United Kingdom's commitment to combating illegal immigration and improved border security through increased joint working.

UK Border Agency: Dover Port

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the budget is for the operations of the UK Border Agency in the Port of Dover in 2010-11.

Damian Green: The budget for the financial year 2010-11 for the UKBA operation at the Port of Dover is £16,279,258.
	UKBA Border Force, which is responsible for all frontline activities within the port has a budget of £15,600,886.
	UKBA Immigration Group, which also has a number of staff based at the port (Dover Enforcement Unit) has a budget of £678,372.

UK Border Agency: Manpower

Damian Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will review her Department's recent decision to reduce the number of people employed by the UK Border Agency in Folkestone.

Damian Green: holding answer 14 June 2010
	The nature and volume of work undertaken by the UK Border Agency in Kent has changed over recent years following the introduction of the juxtaposed controls in Northern France. This, along with the need to establish a local immigration team in neighbouring Sussex, resulted in a review of the structure and size of the local immigration team in Kent. Working together, staff and local managers, have designed a structure which reduces the overall number of staff in Kent, by significantly reducing the number of managers. As a result of the planned restructuring, there will actually be more frontline, arrest-trained officers across Kent and Sussex. These changes are not expected to result in any compulsory redundancies.

HEALTH

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS spent on  (a) all treatments and  (b) long-term treatments of alcohol-related illnesses (i) nationally, (ii) in the East Midlands and (iii) in Leicester in each of the last five years.

Anne Milton: The cost of alcohol treatment is met through national health service mainstream expenditure in line with local needs and priorities and data on NHS spend on alcohol treatment is not collected centrally.
	The National Audit Office (NAO) has carried out an audit of NHS spend on alcohol treatment. Its report, Reducing Alcohol Harm: health services in England for alcohol misuse, was published in November 2008 and found, that where primary care trust expenditure on alcohol services was known, an average of £600,000 was spent on commissioning alcohol services in 2006-07.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many persons aged  (a) over 18 and  (b) 18 and under were treated for alcohol-related illnesses (i) nationally, (ii) in the East Midlands and (iii) in Leicester in each of the last five years.

Anne Milton: Data on the number of patients treated for alcohol-related illnesses is not collected centrally, however, we do collect the number of finished admissions for patients with alcohol-related illnesses and this information is shown in the following tables for the last five years for which data are available. Some patients may have had multiple admissions.
	
		
			  Number of finished admissions of patients aged 18 and under and over 18 with an alcohol-related illnesses 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			   18 and under  Over 18  18 and under  Over 18  18 and under  Over 18  18 and under  Over 18  18 and under  Over 18 
			 Leicester 91 4,308 135 5,319 172 6,185 178 6,315 149 6,376 
			 East Midlands 1,334 55,594 1,437 61,285 1,489 66,221 1,702 72,638 1,677 80,388 
			 England 17,417 626,768 19,709 715,512 20,023 779,097 20,336 842,928 18,562 926,908 
			  Notes: Includes activity in English national health service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector.  Alcohol-related admissions The number of alcohol-related admissions is based on the methodology developed by the North West Public Health Observatory, which uses 48 indicators for alcohol-related illnesses. Figures for under 16s only include admissions where one or more of the following alcohol-specific conditions were listed: Alcoholic cardiomyopathy (I42.6) Alcoholic gastritis (K29.2) Alcoholic liver disease (K70) Alcoholic myopathy (G72.1) Alcoholic polyneuropathy (G62.1) Alcohol-induced pseudo-Cushing's syndrome (E24.4) Chronic pancreatitis (alcohol induced) (K86.0) Degeneration of nervous system due to alcohol (G31.2) Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol (F10) Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol (X45) Ethanol poisoning (T51.0) Methanol poisoning (T51.1) Toxic effect of alcohol, unspecified (T51.9)  Number of episodes in which the patient had an alcohol-related primary or secondary diagnosis These figures represent the number of episodes where an alcohol-related diagnosis was recorded in any of the 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) primary and secondary diagnosis fields in a Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) record. Each episode is only counted once in each count, even if an alcohol-related diagnosis is recorded in more than one diagnosis field of the record.  Ungrossed data Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (ie the data are ungrossed).  Finished admission episodes A finished admission episode is the first period of inpatient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Finished admission episodes are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. It should be noted that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.  Data quality HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England. Data are also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  Assessing growth through time HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. The quality and coverage of the data have improved over time. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Some of the increase in figures for later years (particularly 2006-07 onwards) may be due to the improvement in the coverage of independent sector activity. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and may no longer be accounted for in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  Assignment of Episodes to Years Years are assigned by the end of the first period of care in a patient's hospital stay.  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) adults and  (b) adults aged under 30 who exceeded the recommended maximum for alcohol consumption (i) nationally, (ii) in the East Midlands and (iii) in Leicester in each of the last five years.

Anne Milton: Data on alcohol consumption is collected by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) as part of the General Household Survey. Figures are available for 2006 and 2008 and are in the following table. Data are not available for Leicester because the sample size is too small to produce reliable figures.
	Figures are not available for 2007, as the relevant questions were not included in the General Household Survey and because of a methodological improvement introduced by ONS in 2006 comparable data are not available for earlier years.
	 Percentage of men and women whose average weekly alcohol consumption exceeded 21 or 14 units respectively
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   Area  Adults aged 18 or over  Adults aged between 18 and 29 
			 2006 England 26 31 
			  East Midlands 27 34 
			 2008 England 23 26 
			  East Midlands 22 23 
			 Source:  General Household Survey

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths attributable to alcohol misuse there were  (a) nationally,  (b) in the East Midlands and  (c) in Leicester in each of the last five years.

Anne Milton: The information is shown in the table. It should be noted that the Office for National Statistics (ONS) does not have data for the number of deaths in Leicester.
	
		
			  Number of deaths related to alcohol misuse for East Midlands and England 
			   2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 East Midlands 482 505 504 512 582 
			 England 6,036 6,197 6,517 6,544 6,771 
			 Source:  ONS 
		
	
	The ONS definition of alcohol-related deaths only includes those causes regarded as being wholly due to alcohol consumption. It does not include other diseases where alcohol has been shown to be one of a number of causes, such as cancers of the mouth, oesophagus and liver.
	The definition includes all deaths from chronic liver disease and cirrhosis (excluding biliary cirrhosis), even when alcohol is not specifically mentioned on the death certificate. Apart from deaths due to poisoning with alcohol (accidental, intentional or undetermined), this definition excludes any other external causes of death, such as road traffic and other accidents. The definition allows for consistent comparisons over time for those deaths most clearly associated with alcohol consumption. International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) codes used in this dataset:
	Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol - ICD-10 F10
	Degeneration of nervous system due to alcohol - ICD-10 G31.2
	Alcoholic polyneuropathy - ICD-10 G62.1
	Alcoholic cardiomyopathy - ICD-10 142.6
	Alcoholic gastritis - ICD-10 K29.2
	Alcoholic liver disease - ICD-10 K70
	Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified - ICD-10 K73
	Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver - ICD-10 K74 (Excluding K74.3-K74.5 - Biliary cirrhosis)
	Alcohol induced chronic pancreatitis - ICD-10 K86.0
	Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol - ICD-10 X45
	Intentional self-poisoning by and exposure to alcohol - ICD-10 X65
	Poisoning by and exposure to alcohol, undetermined intent - ICD-10 Y15
	Deaths were selected using the final underlying cause of death.

Cancer: Screening

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase the proportion of people screened for early detection and diagnosis of cancers in  (a) Hartlepool constituency and  (b) the North-East region.

Paul Burstow: There are currently three national cancer screening programmes: breast, cervical and bowel. Primary care trusts (PCTs), including those in the North-East, are responsible for commissioning screening programmes and for managing local screening awareness initiatives.
	In March 2009, the Department published "Reducing Cancer Inequality: Evidence, Progress and Making it Happen: a Report by the National Cancer Equality Initiative", which recommended that PCTs review local levels of screening coverage and uptake to consider whether further action is required. The report has already been placed in the Library.

Care Homes: Mentally Ill

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are for the future of Douglas House in Bournemouth.

Paul Burstow: The Department believes that people with learning disabilities have the right to lead their lives like any others, with the same opportunities and responsibilities and the right to be treated with the same dignity and respect. It is not appropriate for people with learning disabilities to live as inpatients in the national health service when they are not undergoing active assessment or treatment.
	There is extensive research that community-based settings give better outcomes in terms of independence, inclusion and better health for people with learning disabilities. Investment is already underway in Bournemouth and we are seeing clear benefits from campus closure across the country.

Continuing Care

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether patients other than those who are terminally ill qualify for continuing health care.

Paul Burstow: National health service continuing health is a package of care arranged and funded for individuals outside hospital who have ongoing health care needs. Anyone assessed as having a certain level of care needs, whose primary need is a health need, may receive continuing health care. It is not solely for those diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Departmental Official Cars

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the use by Ministers in his Department of cars allocated from  (a) his Department's pool and  (b) the Government car pool which are manufactured in the UK; whether Ministers in his Department are entitled to request the use of a car manufactured in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mike Penning) on 14 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 290-91W.

Dietary Supplements: EU Law

Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the European Commission on maximum permitted dose levels for vitamins and minerals under the EU food supplements directive.

Anne Milton: The Food Standards Agency represents the United Kingdom in discussions with the European Commission on the setting of maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in recommended daily doses of food supplements. The last working group meeting, a meeting of the 'Ad Hoc Working Group', which comprises eight member states including the UK, was held in April 2009.

Genetically Modified Organisms: Food

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to develop a GM-free food labelling scheme similar to schemes in operation in Germany and Austria; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: By law, genetically modified (GM) foods must be labelled so that consumers can exercise choice. There are no specific provisions in the legislation for "GM-free" labelling. However, the use of this term is subject to general legislation on food labelling, which requires claims to be truthful and not misleading to the consumer. The current legislation on GM food is harmonised at European Union level and is currently being reviewed by the European Commission. The Commission's report, which will include GM labelling, is due to be published in the summer and the Government have no plans to develop a national labelling scheme for GM-free food in the meantime.

Health Services: Rural Areas

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will take steps to increase the number of nurse-led clinics in villages;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to increase access to healthcare in rural areas.

Simon Burns: "The Coalition: Our programme for government" document indicates this Government's intention to strengthen the power of general practitioners as patients' expert guides through the health system by enabling them to commission care on their behalf.
	The provision of nurse-led clinics is one of a number of ways in which access to health care can be improved in rural areas including villages. It is the role of commissioners to ensure provision meets local need, and to commission, where required, services such as nurse-led clinics. There are no national plans to implement an increase in nurse-led clinics in rural areas.

Health: Harlow

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds on levels of health inequality in Harlow constituency in each year from 1997 to 2009.

Anne Milton: The information is not available. However, a limited amount of inequality information within Harlow local authority can be found in the Harlow local health profile, produced by the Association of Public Health Observatories (APHO) and published on their website at:
	www.apho.org.uk/resource/view.aspx?RID=50215&SEARCH=harlow

Members: Correspondence

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to respond to the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay's letter of 27 May 2010 on his constituent, Mrs Hazel Berry.

Simon Burns: A reply was issued to the hon. Member on 15 June 2010.

NHS

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of  (a) NHS London and  (b) other strategic health authorities in meeting patient need.

Simon Burns: Strategic health authorities (SHAs) are accountable to the Secretary of State through the NHS chief executive. In addition to the routine performance management of SHAs, during 2009-10 the Department rolled out the SHA Assurance programme. SHA Assurance is designed to strengthen the accountability of SHAs as well as supporting them in their roles as leaders of the local national health service and driving improvements in quality across the health system.
	The SHA Assurance panel visited NHS London and stakeholder organisations in the region during two days in January 2010. The panel's final report and recommendations relating to that assessment will-as with the panel reports for all SHAs visited-be published in due course through routine SHA Board papers, which will be available on their website.

NHS

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to create an independent NHS board; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The coalition agreement set out the Government's intention to establish an independent NHS board to allocate resources and provide commissioning guidelines.
	The NHS Board will drive improvements in the quality of patient care by ensuring commissioning decisions are made according to evidence-based quality standards. It will have autonomy to ensure that funding decisions are made on the basis of need and will support general practitioners to commission services on behalf of their patients.
	We will provide more detail on our plans for establishing the NHS Board in due course.

Smoking: Health Services

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of receipts from hypothecated tobacco tax was ring-fenced for spending on the costs of NHS care for patients with smoking-related diseases in the latest period for which figures are available.

Danny Alexander: I have been asked to reply.
	There is no formal mechanism to ring-fence tobacco receipts for spending on the NHS. It is funded out of the Consolidated Fund.

Sunbeds

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take under the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010 to  (a) prevent children and young people from using unstaffed sunbed salons and  (b) ensure the provision of accurate health information on sunbeds; and when he plans to begin the consultation required by that Act.

Anne Milton: The Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010 (the Act) comes into force on 8 April 2011. The purpose of the Act is to prevent people under the age of 18 from using sunbeds on commercial premises, by making it an offence for sunbed operators to allow people under the age of 18 access to sunbeds on their premises.
	At this time, no decision has been taken on the regulation making powers under the Act, or on any consultations required by the Act.
	The Heath and Safety Executive (HSE) on 1 May 2009 provided revised guidance on their website for sunbed operators, along with information to provide to their customers on the risks to health of sunbed use. SunSmart, the national skin cancer prevention and sun protection campaign also provides information through its website and resources on the risks to health of sunbeds.

Tuberculosis: EU Action

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on measures to reduce the incidence of tuberculosis.

Anne Milton: The Department is a member of the Management Board of the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) and through this, contributes to the development of measures to reduce the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) across Europe. TB is a priority in ECDC's current work programme.
	ECDC is a European Union (EU) agency whose aim is to strengthen Europe's defences against infectious diseases. It was established in 2005 and is situated in Stockholm, Sweden. ECDC's mission is to identify, assess and communicate current and emerging threats to human health posed by infectious diseases.
	In order to achieve this mission, ECDC works in partnership with national health protection bodies and experts across Europe to strengthen and develop continent-wide disease surveillance and early warning systems. ECDC pools Europe's health knowledge, to develop authoritative scientific opinions about the risks posed by current and emerging infectious diseases. TB is one of the ECDC's priority programmes.
	The Department's Director of Health Protection is a member of the ECDC Management Board.
	The Health Protection Agency contributes to formulation and implementation of the EU TB control policy through the European TB Programme Managers group co-ordinated by the ECDC.

Tuberculosis: West Midlands

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to reduce the incidence of tuberculosis in  (a) the West Midlands and  (b) Coventry;
	(2)  how many cases of tuberculosis have been reported in  (a) the West Midlands and  (b) Coventry in each year since 2005;
	(3)  what his most recent estimate is of the incidence of tuberculosis in  (a) the West Midlands and  (b) Coventry; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: It is up to individual primary care trusts (PCTs) to ensure they have adequate procedures in place to reduce the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) and work with the regional Health Protection Agency to handle any outbreaks that occur. However, as part of the regional strategy, 'Investing for Health', West Midlands Strategic Health Authority has led a piece of work looking at developing care pathways for four conditions, of which TB was one.
	The national health service in Coventry is managing TB by:
	promotion of uptake of neonatal BCG;
	increasing the number of staff to manage TB including TB nurses, at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust); and
	implementing T- spot testing within the next three months.
	The number of cases of TB reported in west midlands and Coventry since 2005 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   West Midlands Region  Coventry Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT)( 1) 
			 2005 935 88 
			 2006 944 103 
			 2007 944 140 
			 2008 1,012 111 
			 (1) These data have been provided by Coventry PCT.  Note: Data for 2009 are not yet available at local authority or PCT level.  Source: Health Protection Agency 
		
	
	Most recent estimate of incidence of TB in West Midlands and Coventry is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Rate of tuberculosis in England, West Midlands and Coventry, 2008 
			   Rate 
			 England 15.5 
			 West Midlands Region 18.7 
			 Coventry Teaching PCT 35.8 
			  Notes: 1. Final 2009 data are not yet available 2. Data for Coventry are provided by the Coventry Teaching PCT  Source: Health Protection Agency and Office for National Statistics mid-year estimates

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Councillors

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local councillors sit on both county councils and district councils.

Bob Neill: This information is not held by the Department.

Councillors

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the presumed minimum hours of work are for local councillors remunerated for cabinet responsibilities.

Bob Neill: My Department does not hold this information. Being a councillor is not a job, it is a vocation. Accordingly councillors do not receive salaries, rather they receive allowances designed to ensure that being a councillor does not leave them out of pocket. The roles of the councillor will vary from authority to authority, ward to ward and even person to person. It is for each authority to determine how best to organise their meetings and for each councillor to determine how best to organise his or her work-load.
	The working practices of councillors who are members of a local authority's cabinet are therefore a matter for that authority.

Councillors

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local councillors hold five or more paid public sector positions.

Bob Neill: This information is not held centrally.

Councillors

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which 10 local councillors receive the highest remuneration from the public purse.

Bob Neill: My Department does not hold this information. Each council makes available locally for public inspection the allowances paid to each of their councillors. We will be ensuring these data are published in an open and standardised format to facilitate greater public scrutiny.

Departmental Internet

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the URL is of each website managed by  (a) his Department and  (b) each non-departmental public body and agency for which his Department is responsible.

Bob Neill: The following websites are managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/
	http://www.info4local.gov.uk
	http://www.planningportal.gov.uk
	 Awaiting closure:
	http://www.data4nr.net/
	 Awaiting closure:
	http://www.be-utd.org/
	The following websites are managed by non-departmental public bodies and agencies, for which the Department for Communities and Local Government is responsible:
	 Homes and Communities Agency:
	http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/
	 Tenant Services Authority:
	http://www.tenantservicesauthority.org/
	 Standards for England:
	http://www.standardsforengland.gov.uk/
	 Local Government Ombudsman:
	http://www.lgo.org.uk/
	 Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation:
	http://www.thurrocktgdc.org.uk/
	 West Northamptonshire Development Corporation:
	http://www.wndc.org.uk/
	 Valuation Tribunal Service:
	http://www.valuationtribunal.gov.uk/
	 Leasehold Advisory Service:
	http://www.lease-advice.org/
	 Housing Ombudsman Service:
	http://www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk/
	 Firebuy:
	http://www.firebuy.gov.uk/
	 Community Development Foundation:
	http://www.cdf.org.uk/
	 Infrastructure Planning Commission:
	http://infrastructure.independent.gov.uk/
	 Audit Commission:
	http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/
	 Architects Registration Board:
	http://www.arb.org.uk/
	 Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre:
	http://www.qeiicc.co.uk/
	 Ordnance Survey:
	http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/
	 Fire Service College:
	http://www.fireservicecollege.ac.uk/
	 Planning Inspectorate:
	http://www.planning-inspectorate.gov.uk/
	 Residential Property Tribunal Service:
	http://www.rpts.gov.uk/

Departmental Official Cars

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the  (a) make,  (b) model and  (c) place of manufacture is of the car allocated for the use of each Minister in his Department.

Bob Neill: The Department of Communities and Local Government inherited six allocated cars. One is a Jaguar XJ TDVi Sovereign, manufactured in the UK; one is a Toyota Avensis T4, manufactured in the UK; one is a Honda Civic Hybrid, manufactured in the UK; and three are a Toyota Prius T3, manufactured in Japan.
	These arrangements are changing following the publication of the new Ministerial Code which contains changes that affect ministerial entitlement to travel by Government car. The Code states that
	the number of Ministers with allocated cars and drivers will be kept to a minimum, taking into account security and other relevant considerations. Other Ministers will be entitled to use cars from the Government Car Service Pool as needed.
	Cabinet Office has provided clarification on how the Code should be interpreted. The expectation is that Ministers not in the Cabinet will use the pool service and that Cabinet Ministers who have an allocated car will wish to consider how that car might be utilised by other Ministers within the Department before calls are made on the Government Car Service Pool.
	The Department for Transport and its Government Car and Despatch Agency are working with departments to effect the transition to the new arrangements.

Departmental Official Cars

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on the use by Ministers in his Department of cars allocated from  (a) his Department's pool and  (b) the Government car pool which are manufactured in the UK; whether Ministers in his Department are entitled to request the use of a car manufactured in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning) on 14 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 290-91W.

Departmental Translation Services

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what  (a) documents and  (b) other information for which (i) his Department and (ii) its associated public bodies are responsible are published or provided in the UK in languages other than English; for what reason each such publication is required to be made available in a language or languages other than English; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the translation work so incurred in the latest period for which figures are available.

Bob Neill: The Department does not generally make documents and information available in languages other than English. In the financial year 2009-10, the Department's central Communication Directorate made available some documents, primarily related to the fire and rescue service, in non-English languages as both printed materials and electronic documents. These are listed as follows:
	
		
			  Printed materials  Electronic materials 
			 Ramadan Timetable cards Fire Safety in the Home leaflet: Chinese 
			 Inter Faith Week flyer and poster Fire Safety in the Home leaflet: Punjabi 
			 Fire Kills Kevin Polish poster and flyer Fire Safety in the Home leaflet: Bengali 
			 Frances the Firefly book Fire Safety in the Home leaflet: Arabic 
			 Frances the Firefly Art Competition flyer and poster Fire Safety in the Home leaflet: Somali 
			 Fire Safety in the Home leaflet-Chinese Fire Safety in the Home leaflet: Bulgarian 
			 Fire Safety in the Home leaflet-Punjabi Fire Safety in the Home leaflet: French 
			 Fire Safety in the Home leaflet- Bengali Fire Safety in the Home leaflet: Hungarian 
			 Fire Safety in the Home leaflet-Arabic Fire Safety in the Home leaflet: Latvian 
			 Fire Safety in the Home leaflet-Somali Fire Safety in the Home leaflet: Lithuanian 
			 Merseyside FRS Recruitment bilingual flyer, poster and invitation (Chinese) Fire Safety in the Home leaflet: Polish 
			 Berkshire and Yorkshire FRS Recruitment bilingual flyer, poster and invitation Fire Safety in the Home leaflet: Portuguese 
			 Merseyside and Nottingham FRS Recruitment bilingual flyer, poster and invitation Fire Safety in the Home leaflet: Romanian 
			 Birmingham FRS bilingual flyer, poster and invitation (Bengali and Urdu) Fire Safety in the Home leaflet: Slovak 
			 Gatekeepers Toolkit-Chinese Fire Safety in the Home leaflet: Spanish 
			 Gatekeepers Toolkit-Bengali Fire Safety in the Home leaflet: Tamil 
			 Gatekeepers Toolkit-Urdu Fire Safety in the Home leaflet: Urdu 
			 Gatekeepers Toolkit-posters Pakistani If Only press advert 
			 Together we Save Lives-Chinese Bangladeshi If Only press advert 
			 Together we Save Lives-Bengali Somali Happy Memories press adverts 
			 Together we Save Lives-Urdu Polish If Only press advert 
			 Ambassador Brand Resource Pack, covers, inserts and text Polish Kevin Aiston poster 
			 Dahabshiil poster and dispenser Gatekeepers Toolkit-Chinese 
			  Gatekeepers Toolkit-Bengali 
			  Gatekeepers Toolkit-Urdu 
			  Gatekeepers Toolkit-posters 
		
	
	The total cost to the public purse to print the above printed materials was £85,701. No central record exists of individual translation costs involved, and such costs could only be compiled at disproportionate cost. No cost to the public purse was incurred in 2009-10 to make the electronic materials available.
	Campaign material was made available to local fire and rescue services in languages other than English to assist them in promoting fire safety and recruitment messages amongst communities where English is commonly not spoken as a first language.
	Information on translated documents provided by our ALBs could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Travel

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the  (a) name and  (b) version is of each computer software package used by his Department to calculate its expenditure on travel.

Bob Neill: CLG records and calculates travel expenditure on its central financial, procurement and reporting system-SAP ERP (version:-ECC 5.0, SP 21).

Derelict Land and Green Belt: Thanet

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the acreage of  (a) brownfield and  (b) greenfield land in South Thanet constituency was (i) in 1997 and (ii) on the latest date for which information is available.

Bob Neill: Information is available for the local authority areas of Dover and Thanet and not at constituency level.
	Estimates are available on the amount of previously-developed land that may be available for redevelopment for 1998 to 2008, from the National Land Use Database of Previously-Developed Land. There are no comparable estimates of greenfield land on a comparable basis.
	The table provided shows the estimates for the amount of previously-developed land, by land type category, in Thanet and Dover for the years 1998 and 2008.
	
		
			  Table: Previously-developed land by land type, 1998 and 2008 
			  H ectares 
			   Authority  Vacant land  Vacant buildings  Derelict land and buildings  Currently in use with planning allocation or permission for development( 1)  Currently in use with redevelopment potential 
			 1998 Dover 69 18 193 157 (2)- 
			  Thanet 20 3 37 9 (2)- 
			 2008 Dover 39 24 70 75 0 
			  Thanet 14 0 41 378 14 
			 (1) The definition changed from 2001 to include sites use with planning permission for all uses (not just housing) and to achieve more comprehensive coverage. (2) Not published.  Source: National Land Use Database of Previously-Developed Land 
		
	
	Information at constituency level could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Housing and Planning Delivery Grant: Wigan

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding has been allocated from the Housing and Planning Delivery Grant to Wigan Metropolitan borough council to date.

Andrew Stunell: Housing and Planning Delivery Grant commenced in 2008-09 and Wigan Metropolitan borough council received the following awards:
	
		
			   HPDG Award (£) 
			 2008-09 128,995 
			 2009-10 389,938

Local Government Finance: Sheffield

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the total funding reduction for the city of Sheffield will be consequent on the reduction in grants to local authorities announced on 10 June 2010, taking into account reductions in UK and EU matched spending through the local enterprise government initiative; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: I refer the right hon. Member to the written ministerial statement which my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State laid in the House on Thursday 10 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 15-17WS. Local government are free to make their own decisions about where savings are found. We have ensured that councils have the flexibility to take decisions locally on how to deliver the savings needed.

Local Government: Compulsory Purchase

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to bring forward proposals to amend the legislation relating to compulsory purchase orders for local authorities.

Bob Neill: My Department has no plans to amend the enabling legislation for local authorities' powers to acquire land by compulsion.

Non-domestic Rates: Ports

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many port companies which had been separately rated have  (a) paid their new assessments,  (b) paid a contribution under the scheme to allow retrospective demands to be paid off over eight years,  (c) have not been reassessed under the fast track reassessment programme and  (d) became insolvent following retrospective demands.

Bob Neill: As at 8 October 2009, informal inquiries to local authorities suggest that ratepayers occupying 221 properties within ports had fully discharged their backdated liability and ratepayers occupying a further 200 business properties within ports had been granted a schedule of payments. The Government do not have information on how many payments, or of what amount, the 200 properties with schedule of payments agreements have made.
	In view of concerns over the impact of retrospective demands upon businesses the Government, in accordance with our coalition agreement, implemented a freeze in respect of the collection of certain backdated business rates liabilities including businesses in ports. Under its fast track arrangements for ratepayers with backdated bills, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has pledged to give an initial response to points raised in a proposal within 10 working days and a final decision within two months in all but the most complex cases. The VOA report that they have met the fast-track time scales with respect to new assessments on 97% of ports proposals. All those who have subsequently appealed against the VOA's final decision on their proposal to the independent Valuation Tribunal have been offered early hearings, although in practice few have taken up this offer.
	However, a number of concerns have been raised with Ministers by interested parties concerning the practical operation of the process which we will wish to examine further.
	No information is held centrally on how many port companies which had been separately rated have become insolvent following retrospective demands.

Non-domestic Rates: Ports

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will bring forward proposals to freeze the back-rating of business rates in respect of port businesses.

Bob Neill: Legislation to implement a freeze in respect of certain backdated business rates liabilities came into force on 3 June 2010. Ratepayers that meet the criteria, including those based in ports, can benefit from this measure.
	A copy of the legislation can be found at:
	http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2010/pdf/uksi_20101507_en.pdf

Planning: Public Consultation

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on open source planning.

Bob Neill: The coalition agreement states that
	the Government will return decision-making powers on housing and planning to local councils and reform the planning system in the longer term to give neighbourhoods far more ability to determine the shape of the places in which their inhabitants live, based on the principles set out in the Conservative Party publication 'Open Source Planning' .
	We have already made a start by giving local authorities greater control over garden grabbing and density targets. The Queen's speech included a localism Bill where the planning reform agenda will be taken forward.

Public Houses

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will introduce legislative proposals to enable members of the public in local communities to have the right to buy public houses when they are put up for sale; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Stunell: The Government's commitment to introduce powers to help communities save local facilities threatened with closure, which could include public houses of importance to particular communities, is set out in the The Coalition: our programme for Government. Options for achieving this objective most effectively are under consideration, and we will be discussing this further with all those with an interest across the sectors. We intend that any legislative provisions which result from this consideration will be published in the Decentralisation and Localism Bill in the autumn.

Working Neighbourhoods Fund: Hartlepool

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 10 June 2010, on local government savings package, how much has been provided to Hartlepool constituency from the Working Neighbourhood Fund in each year that it has been in operation.

Bob Neill: Information is not available for individual constituencies. The Working Neighbourhood Fund allocation to Hartlepool local authority was:
	
		
			  Hartlepool 
			   £000 
			 2008-09 4,520 
			 2009-10 5,840 
			 2010-11 (indicative) 5,090 
			 Total 16,005

Working Neighbourhoods Fund: Wigan

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 10 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 15-17WS, on the local government savings package, how much has been provided to Wigan constituency from the Working Neighbourhoods Fund in each year of its operation.

Andrew Stunell: Information is not available for individual constituencies.
	The Woking Neighbourhood Fund allocation to Wigan local authority was as follows:
	
		
			  Wigan  £000 
			 2008-09 5,932 
			 2009-10 7,952 
			 2010-11 6,991 
			 Total 20,875

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Departmental NDPBs

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which non-departmental public bodies report to his Department; and what  (a) remuneration is given to the chair and to members of each body and  (b) rate of expenses is paid to members, broken down by categories of expenses claimable.

Edward Davey: A list of the Department's NDPBs can be found at the link as follows, under BERR's and DIUS's public bodies directories 2009, which also includes the remuneration given to chairs:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/aboutus/corporate/performance/annual-spending/page27140.html
	We do not hold information on NDPBs Board members' remuneration centrally but this can be found in each of the organisations' published annual report and accounts.
	Rates of expenses paid to members of NDPBs are not held centrally and could only be collated at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Official Cars

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the  (a) make,  (b) model and  (c) place of manufacture is of the car allocated for the use of each Minister in his Department.

Edward Davey: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has inherited seven cars which its Ministers are using until pre-existing contracts expire. There is a Jaguar XJ TDVi Sovereign, a Jaguar X type SE.2.d manufactured in the UK, two Toyota Prius T3 and three Honda Civic ES Hybrids which were all manufactured in Japan.

Departmental Official Cars

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on the use by Ministers in his Department of cars allocated from  (a) his Department's pool and  (b) the Government car pool which are manufactured in the UK; whether Ministers in his Department are entitled to request the use of a car manufactured in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer he received from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport on 14 June 2010,  Official Report, column 290W.

Departmental Public Appointments

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many  (a) political appointments and  (b) other personal appointments he has made since his appointment; and at what estimated annual cost to the public purse.

Edward Davey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 8 June 2010,  Official Report, column 6WS.

Environment Protection

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress has been made on implementation of the Doha Declaration paragraph 31 commitment to reduce or eliminate tariffs and non-tariff barriers on environmental goods and services.

Edward Davey: Concluding the Doha Round is a high priority for the UK Government, and we are working with the EU to secure an ambitious deal as soon as possible. The liberalisation of environmentally friendly goods and services is an important part of the negotiations. The World Trade Organisation's Committee on Trade and Environment is mandated to take forward these negotiations, and all parties, including the EU, have reaffirmed their commitment to the negotiations. However, progress has been slow, primarily due to difficulties with defining environmental goods.

Fossil Fuels: Export Credit Guarantees

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which fossil fuel energy projects the Export Credits Guarantee Department is supporting; in which country each projected is situated; which UK companies are in receipt of support; which type of plant is being supported in each case; what the  (a) start and  (b) completion date is for each project; and how much is being provided to each.

Edward Davey: The following table lists the relevant cases where ECGD has a contingent liability arising from the support it is providing in respect of exports to fossil fuel projects.
	
		
			  Fossil fuel projects( 1) 
			  Country  UK exporter  Project  Original level of support provided (£)  Liability start date (est.)  Contract completion date (est.) 
			 Indonesia NEI Power Projects Ltd Combined cycle power plant 36,647,273 December 1994 December 2001 
			 Indonesia Allen Power Engineering Ltd Power stn extension. Supply and installation of 11 diesel generating sets 18,955,088 December 1997 December 2000 
			 Turkey Allen Power Engineering Ltd Bilkent 6,799,523 October 1998 September 1999 
			 Venezuela (2)- Oil and gas project 50,668,873 - - 
			 Philippines ABN Amro Bank NV San Lorenzo-500 MW Gas Power station at Batangas 44,382,802 March 2000 September 2015 
			 Dominican Republic Motherwell Bridge Engineering Ltd San Pedro-Conversion of Oil Power station to Gas Fired Power Station 15,783,542 April 2000 February 2002 
			 Iran (Islamic Republic of) Skanska Construction UK Ltd Tabas coal mine 29,524,244 March 2001 June 2005 
			 Algeria Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery Ltd Supply of pumping and generating sets for the 0Z2 Pipeline 22,282,064 October 2001 October 2003 
			 Brazil Man B  W Diesel Ltd 4 x diesel generating sets 6,884,401 November 2001 December 2002 
			 Israel Alstom Power Ltd Refurb of existing power station. Low Emission Boiler and Converter 7,094,427 March 2002 October 2003 
			 Turkey Alstom Power Plants Ltd 2 x 160 MLO Power Station 7,262,428 April 2002 February 2004 
			 Nigeria M W Kellogg Ltd LNG project. Addition of Trains 4 and 5 to existing LNG plant 119,033,808 December 2002 September 2005 
			 Algeria Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery Ltd Supply of turbine generator sets for the OZ2 Pipeline 23,061,936 September 2003 September 2005 
			 Brazil Diamond Offshore Drilling (UK) Ltd P52 oil platform. Drilling Offshore Exploration Wells/Charter of an Offshore Drilling Unit 42,767,276 January 2004 February 2004 
			 Azerbaijan BP Exploration (Caspian Sea) Ltd BTC Pipeline project 56,354,403 February 2004 August 2006 
			 Iran (Islamic Republic of) Salzgitter Mannesmann (UK) Ltd South Pars Phases 9 and 10. Steel-related products for the downstream development of a gas field 12,630,693 July 2004 July 2008 
			 Iran (Islamic Republic of) Man Ltd South Pars Phases 9 and 10 Mechanical, piping and electrical engineering equipment for the downstream development of a gas field 32,529,092 July 2004 July 2008 
			 Iran (Islamic Republic of) Doncasters Middle East Ltd Provision of services and tooling to refurbish turbine generator blades 14,373,935 August 2004 March 2006 
			 Kazakhstan Kellogg Brown  Root Alibekmola Oil Field Development 6,839,754 November 2004 December 2004 
			 Mexico Odebrecht Oil and Gas Services Ltd Living quarters on oil platform 6,189,505 November 2004 December 2004 
			 Brazil Invsat Ltd P52 oil platform: Telecommunications 1,318,153 October 2005 October 2007 
			 Brazil Koch Chemical Technology Group Ltd P52 oil platform. Vacuum Deaeration Equipment 2,099,502 October 2005 October 2007 
			 Brazil Rolls Royce Power Engineering plc P52 oil platform: Power Generation Equipment 26,695,937 October 2005 October 2007 
			 Brazil VWS Westgarth Ltd P52 oil platform: Sulphate Reduction Equipment 6,488,282 October 2005 October 2007 
			 Korea, Republic of Alstom Power Conversion Ltd Shin Wolsuing Power Stn 1,127,299 January 2006 January 2009 
			 Turkey Brush Electrical Machines Ltd 50 MW generators sets 684,163 March 2006 May 2006 
			 Mexico SLP Engineering Ltd KMZ oil field platform: Accommodation Platforms 12,468,774 June 2006 January 2008 
			 Nigeria Gentec Energy plc 5 MW gas fired power plant 7,891,229 May 2008 June 2009 
			 Nigeria Gentec Energy Plc 12.75 MW power stn and gas plant 13,669,924 September 2008 September 2009 
			 Russian Federation Rolls Royce Plc Portovaya Compressor Station: Compressors and related equipment for Nordstream pipeline 376,450,274 May 2010 June 2011 
			 (1) Includes oil and gas transportation, coal, oil and gas extractions, power generation and energy exports that involve the use of fossil fuel. Excludes petrochemical projects. (2 )Information withheld to protect the commercial interests of the company and ECGD.

Post Offices

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will review the post office closures implemented in the last three years for the purpose of re-introducing services in those premises.

Edward Davey: It is not my intention to review the post office closures implemented under the Network Change Programme. But the Government are committed to allowing post offices to offer a wide range of services in order to sustain the post office network without any further closure programme.

Post Offices: Bank Services

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the Government's plans are for the social payment network for post offices; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: The Government fully recognise the important social and economic role of post offices in the communities they serve. The Government are committed to making a social network payment to support the network in 2011-12, subject to state aid clearance from the European Commission. The Government are working with Post Office Ltd on funding requirements for the network beyond 2012.

Post Offices: Thanet

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many post office branches there were in South Thanet constituency  (a) in 1997 and  (b) on the latest date for which information is available.

Edward Davey: I have asked David Smith, the managing director of Post Office Ltd, to respond directly to my hon. Friend and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Renewable Energy: Export Credit Guarantees

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take to increase take-up of the Export Credits Guarantee Department's £50 million annual underwriting fund for the renewable energy industry.

Edward Davey: In collaboration with the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, UK Trade International, the Department of Energy and Climate Change and relevant trade associations, including the Renewable Energy Association, ECGD continues to promote its services to renewable energy exporters, so that as required these can be used to assist them when they compete to win export orders. ECGD has risk capacity that in aggregate substantially exceeds £50 million to support exports of renewable energy technology. This capacity is allocated to individual overseas markets based upon their creditworthiness, taking into account existing risk exposure and likely future demand, and is made available on a first come, first served basis for eligible exports.

Train to Gain Programme: North East

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many  (a) employers and  (b) employees received support from the Train to Gain programme in (i) Hartlepool constituency, (ii) Tees Valley sub-region and (iii) North-East region in each year since the programme was introduced; and how many in each category will receive such support in (A) 2010-11 and (B) 2011-12.

John Hayes: In England, between August 2008 and March 2009, 39,700 employers were engaged through the Train to Gain Skills Brokerage Service. This was replaced in April 2009 by the Business Link Integrated Brokerage Service, which recorded 16,100 employer engagements between April and July 2009(1). Table 1 shows Train to Gain starts by (i) Hartlepool parliamentary constituency (ii) Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Darlington and Redcar and Cleveland, local authorities which comprise the Tees Valley sub region and (iii) the North-East Government office region for the 2005/06 to 2008/09 academic year, the latest year for which full year data is available. Final full year Train to Gain data for 2009/10, released as part of a Statistical First Release, is normally expected to be available in December 2010. Investment in further education and skills for the financial year 11-12 onwards will be subject to the spending review.
	(1) The number of employer engagements represents the number of employers who have engaged with the Brokerage Service. It does not represent the number of employers with employees learning on the Train to Gain programme.
	
		
			  Table 1: Train to Gain starts by Geography, 2005/06 to 2008/09 
			   2005/06( 1)  2006/07  2007/08  2008/09( 2) 
			 Hartlepool parliamentary constituency/local authority 100 500 700 2,300 
			 Redcar and Cleveland local authority 200 1,000 1,200 3,100 
			 Middlesbrough local authority 200 900 1,200 3,700 
			 Stockton-on-Tees local authority 200 1,000 1,300 4,500 
			 Darlington local authority 100 500 700 2,300 
			 Tees Valley sub region 800 3,900 5,000 15,800 
			 North East Government office( )region 3,500 15,200 19,800 75,800 
			 (1) April to August. (2) Figures for 2008/09 are not comparable with earlier years as in 2008/09 NVQs delivered in the workplace previously funded by FE are now funded by Train to Gain. There were 181,000 starts and 132,000 achievements in NVQs delivered in the workplace in 2007/08.  Notes: 1. Parliamentary constituency, local authority and regional figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. The full-year numbers are a count of the number of starts at any point during the year. Learners starting more than one course will appear more than once. 3. Government office region, local authority and parliamentary constituency is based upon the home postcode of the learner. 4. Tees Valley sub region is comprised of Hartlepool, Redcar and Cleveland, Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees and Darlington local authorities. Figures for Tees Valley sub region are based on the sum of unrounded data for these local authorities.  Source: Individualised Learner Record

Train to Gain Programme: West Midlands

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many  (a) employers and  (b) employees received support under the Train to Gain programme in the west midlands in 2009-10; and how many will receive such support in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12.

John Hayes: In England, between August 2008 and March 2009, 39,700 employers were engaged through the Train to Gain Skills Brokerage Service. This was replaced in April 2009 by the Business Link Integrated Brokerage Service, which recorded 16,100 employer engagements between April and July 2009.(1)
	There were 106,600 Train to Gain starts in the west midlands Government office region in the 2008/09 academic year, the latest year for which full year data are available. Final full year Train to Gain data for 2009/10, released as part of a Statistical First Release, is normally expected to be available in December 2010.
	Investment in further education and skills for the financial year 2011-12 onwards will be subject to the spending review.
	(1) The number of employer engagements represents the number of employers who have engaged with the Brokerage Service. It does not represent the number of employers with employees learning on the Train to Gain programme.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Palace of Westminster: Repairs and Maintenance

Chris Bryant: To ask the Leader of the House what discussions he has had with the House authorities on necessary long-term work to the Palace of Westminster; and if he will publish advice he has received on this matter.

George Young: Long-term work to the Palace of Westminster is a matter for the House of Commons Commission. I have regular discussions with the House authorities on a range of issues, both in my capacity as Leader of the House and as a member of the House of Commons Commission.

Petitions

Chris Bryant: To ask the Leader of the House if he will make provision for online submission of petitions to the House.

George Young: The Government propose a radical reform of the way the House handles petitions, with those that receive at least 100,000 signatures being eligible for debate in the House. Online petitioning could play an important part in these new procedures.
	The Procedure Committee produced proposals in its First Report of 2007-08 (HC 136), which the previous Government resisted on the basis of the projected cost of more than £4 million over the course of a Parliament (HC 952, Session 2008-09). Any further proposals would need to demonstrate that they offered good value for money.

Written Questions

Chris Bryant: To ask the Leader of the House if he will discuss with the authorities of both Houses provision for combining the publication of ministerial answers to written questions asked in the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

George Young: The publication of written ministerial answers is a matter for each House. I have no plans to propose any changes to the current arrangements.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Departmental Mobile Phones

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which Ministers in his Department have been issued with  (a) a BlackBerry,  (b) an iPhone,  (c) another make of mobile telephone and  (d) a personal digital assistant supplied by the Department.

Gregory Barker: All four Ministers at this Department have been issued with one BlackBerry each.

Departmental Official Cars

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on the use by Ministers in his Department of cars allocated from  (a) his Department's pool and  (b) the Government car pool which are manufactured in the UK; whether Ministers in his Department are entitled to request the use of a car manufactured in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: I refer you to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport on 14 June 2010, Official Report, column 290-91W.

Departmental Official Cars

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many individual car journeys have been made on ministerial duties by Ministers in his Department in the last four weeks.

Gregory Barker: The information requested is not held.

Nuclear Power Stations: Insurance

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his estimate is of the cost to the public purse of insurance indemnities to the nuclear industry in the latest period for which figures are available.

Charles Hendry: None.

Radioactive Waste: Waste Management

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department have had with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority on the (i) earliest and (ii) latest dates for the proposed national deep-level geological repository for radioactive waste to open to receive waste deposits; and what discussions his Department has had on the operation opening dates of that proposed repository.

Charles Hendry: Ministers held discussions with representatives from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) on a recent visit to Sellafield. This visit provided an opportunity to discuss the NDA's responsibilities for decommissioning and clean-up of the UK's public civil nuclear sites including the geological disposal of higher activity radioactive waste. Officials regularly meet the NDA to discuss the same responsibilities.
	In 2008, communities were invited to 'Express an Interest' in entering discussions with Government about a siting process for a geological disposal facility and to date three 'Expressions of Interest' have been received from authorities in west Cumbria. The programme towards implementation is flexible and incorporates both robust technical site investigations and ongoing interactions between the project and local communities. The Government have therefore not set a fixed delivery timetable, however the NDA has a current planning assumption that the disposal facility could be available to receive the first waste in 2040.
	This Government recognise the need for strong leadership and effective programme management for geological disposal and will publish a more detailed timeline against which progress can be measured. This will be based on NDA planning assumptions which are benchmarked against international experience.
	Interim stores provide safe and secure facilities throughout the geological disposal facility development programme. In the event that geological disposal facilities are not available until after 2040, they can have their lives extended as required.

Radioactive Waste: Waste Management

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department have had with (i) industry and (ii) local authorities on the location for an underground repository for radioactive waste; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Hendry: In 2008, communities were invited to 'Express an Interest' in entering discussions with Government about a siting process for a geological disposal facility for higher activity radioactive waste.
	To date, three 'Expressions of Interest' have been received (Copeland borough council, Cumbria county council and Allerdale borough council) for the areas of Copeland and Allerdale. The authorities and local stakeholders are working together in partnership to consider issues relevant to this stage of the process and DECC officials have regular discussions with them as part of these arrangements. Further information about the West Cumbria Managing Radioactive Waste Safely (MRWS) Partnership can be found at
	www.westcumbriamrws.org.uk
	The option to 'Express an Interest' remains open and as such DECC officials have promoted the invite, as well as the opportunities that will arise from hosting such a facility, at a number of national events and meetings with local authorities and industry. Ministers will also seek to confirm the invitation process wherever possible during their routine visits and meetings.

Renewable Energy

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has for renewable heat incentive schemes; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: holding answer 7 June 2010
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Michael Fallon) on 15 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 367-68W.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to his Department's answer of 10 June 2010,  Official Report, column 223W, on renewable energy: feed-in tariffs, if he will take steps to equalise the payments made to owners of micro-generation capacity used for feed-in tariffs who installed micro generation capacity before 15 July 2009 and those who installed it after that date.

Charles Hendry: I have received a number of representations on this issue and am considering them carefully in the context of our overall approach to energy and climate change. We will make an announcement in due course.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers of 11 Light Brigade have been  (a) killed,  (b) very seriously injured and  (c) seriously injured during the brigade's operations in Afghanistan.

Liam Fox: holding answer 14 June 2010
	11 Light Brigade deployed as Task Force Helmand between 10 October 2009 and 10 April 2010. During this roulement the UK sustained 59 fatalities, 44 very serious injured and 28 seriously injured troops.

Armed Forces: Deployment

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent estimate he has made of the number of service personnel stationed in  (a) Germany and  (b) Cyprus.

Andrew Robathan: The numbers of UK Regular Service Personnel as at 1 April 2010 stationed in Germany and Cyprus are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Location  Total number 
			 Germany 19,090 
			 Cyprus 2,880 
		
	
	These figures are based on strengths of armed forces personnel based in each location at a specific time and will vary as personnel change location.
	A copy of the Defence Analytical Services and Advice publication TSP 10 (UK Regular Forces Stationed Location) has been placed in the Library of the House.

Armed Forces: Dogs

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what recent estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the dogs deployed by each armed service to undertake each function;
	(2)  how many dogs in the armed forces have been put down in the last 12 months; and for what reasons.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence accounting system does not hold financial data in the format requested.
	99 military working dogs have been put down in the last 12 months. 89 of these were for veterinary related problems, with the remainder due to behavioural issues, which is defined as turning on their handlers and being unsafe to work with.
	The Ministry of Defence gives dogs every possible training opportunity to correct such behaviour before resorting to euthanasia.

Atomic Weapons Establishment

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Lewes of 2 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1081W, on the Atomic Weapons Establishment: floods, what cost was incurred by  (a) his Department,  (b) AWE plc and  (c) commercial insurers arising from the July 2007 flooding at the Atomic Weapons Establishment sites; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Luff: The cost incurred by the Ministry of Defence as a result of the flood at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) in 2007 was some £5 million. The Ministry of Defence Police based at Burghfield also incurred flood-related costs totalling £110,000 which did not form part of the AWE Management Ltd claim. A small claim from an AWE sub-contractor has still to be resolved.
	The £5 million flood-related costs described above were incurred by AWE Management Ltd and their operating company, AWE plc, and were the costs claimed from the Department under non-nuclear indemnity.
	No costs were incurred by commercial insurers as a result of the flood, as the non-nuclear indemnity is in place to cover such events.

Atomic Weapons Establishment

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what staffing targets for the Atomic Weapons Establishment for  (a) permanent staff,  (b) temporary staff and  (c) consultants have been set for each of the next three years.

Peter Luff: Based on current contract assumptions, AWE plc staffing targets for the next three years are 4,700 permanent full-time equivalent staff, no temporary staff and 1000 integrated personnel, who are contractors employed by AWE plc to provide specific fixed-term skills and expertise. The exact figures will be dependent on programme demand.

AWE Burghfield

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action was taken to assess levels of off-site radioactive contamination resulting from scouring of drains or other causes following the 2007 floods at the Atomic Weapons Establishment Burghfield.

Peter Luff: All of the locations from which water exits the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Burghfield site, sediment in the Burghfield brook and grass samples are subject to routine sampling. The results of the sampling are reported to the Environment Agency and are available on the AWE website. Samples taken at the time of the floods indicate no abnormal levels of off-site radioactive contamination.

Clyde Submarine Base

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to replace radioactive waste facilities at HM Naval Base Clyde; whether new waste facilities will be operational by 2014; and how much funding has been allocated for this purpose.

Peter Luff: Plans for replacing the existing radioactive waste facilities at HM Naval Base Clyde are under development. A study of the future radioactive waste processing requirement is nearing completion, which will inform the options for the new facility.
	Against current plans, it is anticipated that the new facility will not be operational until the latter part of this decade.
	Until the new facility is operational, HM Naval Base Clyde will continue to work with the appropriate regulators, the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator, the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, to ensure that the existing waste management facilities are managed and operated in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.
	Costs are not yet available at this early stage and will be developed as part of the preparation of the main gate business case.

Defence

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his planned timetable is for holding a strategic defence review.

Liam Fox: The Government are conducting a wide-ranging cross-Government strategic defence and security review under the National Security Council. This will provide coherent long-term policy direction and take the tough choices required to produce the armed forces' and wider defence capabilities the country will need in the decades ahead. It will report by the end of the year.

Defence: Procurement

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to review defence procurement contracts; how many contracts will be reassessed on value-for-money grounds; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Luff: Under the strategic defence and security review, the Secretary of State has set work in hand to review all major equipment and support contracts to ensure the future programme is coherent with future defence needs and can be afforded.
	The Government are also reassessing spending approvals granted between 1 January 2010 and the general election to ensure that they offer good value for money and are consistent with the Government's priorities, and further announcements will be made in due course.

Departmental Internet

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the URL is of each website managed by  (a) his Department and  (b) each non-departmental public body and agency for which his Department is responsible.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence and armed forces collectively maintain four corporate websites. The URLs are as follows:
	
		
			  Website  URL 
			 Ministry of Defence www.mod.uk 
			 Royal Navy www.royalnavy.mod.uk 
			 British Army www.army.mod.uk 
			 Royal Air Force www.raf.mod.uk 
		
	
	The URLs managed by NDPBs are as follows:
	
		
			  Website  URL 
			 National Employer Advisory Board www.sabre.mod.uk 
			 National Museum of the Royal Navy www.fleetairarm.com 
			  www.royalmarinesmuseum.co.uk 
			  www.royalnavalmuseum.org 
			  www.rnsubmus.co.uk 
			 National Army Museum www.national-army-museum.ac.uk 
			 Royal Air Force Museum www.rafmuseum.org 
			  www.rafmuseumshop.com 
		
	
	The URLs managed by agencies are as follows:
	
		
			  Website  URL 
			 Service Personnel and Veterans Agency www.veterans-uk.info 
			 MOD Police and Guarding Agency www.mod.police.uk 
		
	
	The URLs managed by trading funds are as follows:
	
		
			  Website  URL 
			 Defence Support Group www.dsg.mod.uk 
			 Defence Science and Technology Laboratory www.dstl.gov.uk 
			  www.ctcentre.mod.uk/ 
			 Met Office www.metoffice.gov.uk 
			  http://hadobs.metoffice.com 
			 UK Hydrographic Office www.ukho.gov.uk 
			  http://nmwebsearch.com 
			  www.admiraltyleisure.co.uk 
			  http://catalogue.ukho.gov.uk/ 
		
	
	A number of other websites are managed by the Ministry of Defence:
	
		
			  Website  URL 
			 Acquisition Operating Framework www.aof.mod.uk 
			 Aeronautical Information Documents Unit www.aidu.mod.uk 
			 Army Crusaders Football Club www.crusadersvets.mod.uk 
			 Army FE Bursary Scheme www.bursary.furthereducation.mod.uk 
			 Army Fit www.armyfit.mod.uk 
			 Army in Education http://armyineducation.army.mod.uk/ 
			 Army Jobs Pathfinder http://pathfinder.armyjobs.mod.uk 
			 Army online www.armyonline.mod.uk 
			 British Army jobs www.armyjobs.mod.uk 
			 British Forces Post Office www.bfpo.mod.uk 
			 Camouflage www.camouflage.mod.uk 
			 Chief Scientific Advisor www.science.mod.uk 
			 Civilian Jobs www.civilianjobs.mod.uk/ 
			 Defence Academy www.da.mod.uk 
			 Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA) www.dasa.mod.uk 
			 Defence Blogs www.blogs.mod.uk 
			 Defence Contracts Bulletin www.contracts.mod.uk 
			 Defence Dynamics www.defencedynamics.mod.uk 
			 Defence Engineering and Science Group www.desg.mod.uk 
			 Defence Image Database www.defenceimagedatabase.mod.uk 
			 Defence News Imagery www.defencenewsimagery.mod.uk 
			 Defence Sixth Form College (Welbeck) www.dsfc.ac.uk/ 
			 Disposal Services Authority www.edisposals.com 
			 DES Careers www.descareers.co.uk/ 
			 Film Locations www.films.mod.uk 
			 Future Navigation www.futureofnavigation.com 
			 ICS Catalogue www.icscat.mod.uk 
			 Joint Data Link Management Organisation www.jdlmo.mod.uk 
			 My Camouflage MOD www.mycamouflage.mod.uk 
			 Royal Air Force Community Support www.rafcom.co.uk 
			 Royal Military Academy Sandhurst www.sandhurst.mod.uk 
			 Royal Navy Community Website www.rncom.mod.uk 
			 Soldier Magazine www.soldiermagazine.co.uk 
			 Sovereign Base Areas Cyprus www.sba.mod.uk 
			 Thunderer Squadron-Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme www.thunderersquadron.mod.uk 
			 To The Best www.tothebest.army.mod.uk 
			 UK Defence Standardisation www.dstan.mod.uk 
			 Welbeck www.welbeck.mod.uk 
		
	
	On current plans 28 of these sites are scheduled to be rationalised by March 2011, in line with the pan-government web rationalisation programme.

Departmental Manpower

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) special advisers and  (b) press officers are employed by his Department; and at what civil service pay grade in each such case.

Andrew Robathan: There are two special advisers in the Ministry of Defence, both fall within pay band 2 of the special advisers pay structure.
	The following table shows press officer posts in the Ministry of Defence identified in a survey carried out in March 2010, adjusted to take account of known changes since. A breakdown of those posts by civilian and military grade is also shown in the table. This includes civilian and military posts across the Department, including within single Services and Trading Funds. Posts are defined as those who directly interface with national or regional media on news issues, and include those working overseas in direct support of operations.
	
		
			  Grade  Number of press officers 
			 SCS1 1 
			 B1 (Grade 6) 1 
			 B2 (Grade 7) 14 
			 CI (SIO) 21 
			 C2 (IO) 55 
			 D(EO) 1 
			 OF5(1) 1 
			 OF4(1) 4 
			 OF3(1) 5 
			 OF2(1) 1 
			 SNCO(1) 2 
			 Total 106 
			 (1) Military grade. For example OF5, OF4, OF3 are equivalent to Army Colonel, Lt Col and Major respectively, but include all equivalent single Service ranks.

Departmental Translation Services

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what  (a) documents and  (b) other information for which (i) his Department and (ii) its associated public bodies are responsible are published or provided in the UK in languages other than English; for what reason each such publication is required to be made available in a language or languages other than English; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the translation work so incurred in the latest period for which figures are available.

Andrew Robathan: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. All expenditure must comply with the principles set out in Managing Public Money and in the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
	Accessibility to expenditure information on discrete items and services is largely determined by the MOD's Chart of Accounts (Joint Service Publication 530), copies of which are available in the Library of the House. It is also published in the MOD's publication scheme at:
	http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/FinancialReports/ChartOfAccountsManualJsp530.htm

Military Bases: Safety

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking in response to the safety concerns raised by the Ship Environment and Safety Board in their recent report to the Defence Environment and Safety Board.

Andrew Robathan: The Department produced a new safety strategy in April 2010 to address all of the main concerns raised in the Ship Environment and Safety Board report to the Defence Environment and Safety Board for 2009. Safety remains the highest priority to the Department, and the Defence Environment and Safety Board will closely monitor the implementation of the Safety Strategy.

Military Bases: Safety

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the licence to store ordnance munitions and explosives at each applicable one of his Department's facilities will expire.

Peter Luff: Some 4,500 Explosives Limit Licences are currently issued by the Department for facilities and buildings, across the UK and overseas, that contain, or are likely to contain, military explosives. The licences can range in scope from the storage of small arms ammunition and pyrotechnics to the processing of torpedoes and other weapons systems. I am withholding the details of the various locations as their collective disclosure could prejudice Defence and UK national security interests. Licences are issued on a rolling three or five-yearly basis, and all current licences will expire by 2015. A comprehensive review is carried out before a new licence is issued to any facility or building.

Military Bases: Safety

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the Defence Ordnance Safety Board's report of limited assurance on ordnance munitions and explosives; and what steps he is taking to increase the safety of facilities where explosive ordnance is stored.

Peter Luff: On behalf of the Secretary of State, the 2nd PUS chairs a Defence Environment and Safety Board (DESB) which monitors and reviews performance, including that of the Defence Ordnance Safety Board (DOSB). The DOSB's concerns were highlighted in the DESB's report to Defence Board and Defence Audit Committee. The department recognises that there are issues with the state of some of its ammunition storage depots which, if not attended to, would become increasingly serious. Our requirements for ammunition storage will be reviewed in the light of the strategic defence and security review and this may mean that some storage depots can be shut altogether. We will consider work to address any defects in the depots that remain open in the context of the forthcoming planning round.

Nuclear Weapons

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) name,  (b) date,  (c) location and  (d) grade is of each nuclear weapons emergency exercise being organised by his Department in (i) 2010 and (ii) 2011.

Peter Luff: The names, dates, locations and grades of the nuclear weapons emergency exercises already undertaken or to be undertaken in 2010 are:
	
		
			   Exercise  Location  Grade 
			 9-11 March 2010 Bronze Endeavour 10 RAF Honington, Suffolk Grade D 
			 12-13 May 2010 Astral Bend 10 Sculthorpe Training Ground, Norfolk and RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk Grade C and ungraded Table Top Exercise 
			 19 October 2010 SITEX (B) AWE Burghfield Level 1 
		
	
	The names, dates, locations and grades of nuclear weapons emergency exercises in 2011 have yet to be determined.
	Exercise Bronze Endeavour 10 was moved to Honington from its earlier planned location at Hullavington. Level 1 is a civil grading, broadly equivalent to Ministry of Defence grade C.

Radioactive Materials

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what definitions his Department uses for the four categories of special nuclear materials.

Peter Luff: The definitions used are consistent with International Atomic Energy Agency guidelines. Categories are principally defined according to the amounts of plutonium, uranium 233, and uranium 235. I am withholding information on the precise definitions as this would be likely to prejudice national security.

RAF Kinloss

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the first Nimrod MRA4 will be operational at RAF Kinloss.

Nick Harvey: Nimrod MRA4 deliveries began in March this year and under current plans initial operating capability is expected to be achieved at RAF Kinloss by October 2012, with some ad hoc capability available before this date.
	All major equipment projects will be assessed as part of the comprehensive strategic defence and security review the Government are conducting.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

British Overseas Territories

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to review the relationship between the UK and its Overseas Territories; and if he will make a statement.

Henry Bellingham: The Government are currently undertaking a review of our relationship with the Overseas Territories. We aim to bring renewed focus to the UK's relationship with the Overseas Territories and the important strategic, historic and cultural links that we share.

Departmental Internet

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the URL is of each website managed by  (a) his Department and  (b) each non-departmental public body and agency for which his Department is responsible.

Jeremy Browne: The Digital Diplomacy Group of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is responsible for the following websites, which are managed from the central FCO web platform. They include websites for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and its posts overseas (including websites in 40 different languages).
	http://britishembassyinireland.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://digitaldiplomacy.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://foi.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukeu.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinafghanistan.fco.gov.uk/dr/
	http://ukinafghanistan.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinafghanistan.fco.gov.uk/ps/
	http://ukinalbania.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinalbania.fco.gov.uk/sq/
	http://ukinalgeria.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinalgeria.fco.gov.uk/fr/
	http://ukinangola.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinangola.fco.gov.uk/pt/
	http://ukinargentina.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinargentina.fco.gov.uk/es/
	http://ukinarmenia.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinarmenia.fco.gov.uk/hy/
	http://ukinaustralia.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinaustria.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinazerbaijan.fco.gov.uk/az/
	http://ukinazerbaijan.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinbahrain.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinbangladesh.fco.gov.uk/bn/
	http://ukinbangladesh.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinbarbados.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinbelarus.fco.gov.uk/be/
	http://ukinbelarus.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinbelgium.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinbelgium.fco.gov.uk/fr/
	http://ukinbelgium.fco.gov.uk/nl/
	http://ukinbelize.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinbih.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinbolivia.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinbolivia.fco.gov.uk/es/
	http://ukinbotswana.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinbrazil.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinbrazil.fco.gov.uk/pt/
	http://ukinbrunei.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinbrunei.fco.gov.uk/ms/
	http://ukinbulgaria.fco.gov.uk/bg/
	http://ukinbulgaria.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinburma.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinbvi.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukincambodia.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukincambodia.fco.gov.uk/km/
	http://ukincameroon.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukincameroon.fco.gov.uk/fr/
	http://ukincanada.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukincanada.fco.gov.uk/fr/
	http://ukincayman.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinchile.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinchile.fco.gov.uk/es/
	http://ukinchina.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinchina.fco.gov.uk/zh/
	http://ukincolombia.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukincolombia.fco.gov.uk/es/
	http://ukincostarica.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukincostarica.fco.gov.uk/es/
	http://ukincroatia.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukincuba.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukincuba.fco.gov.uk/es/
	http://ukincyprus.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinczechrepublic.fco.gov.uk/cs/
	http://ukinczechrepublic.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukindenmark.fco.gov.uk/da/
	http://ukindenmark.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukindominicanrepublic.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukindominicanrepublic.fco.gov.uk/es/
	http://ukindrc.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinecuador.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinecuador.fco.gov.uk/es/
	http://ukinegypt.fco.gov.uk/ar/
	http://ukinegypt.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukineritrea.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinestonia.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinestonia.fco.gov.uk/et/
	http://ukinethiopia.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinfiji.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinfinland.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinfinland.fco.gov.uk/fi/
	http://ukinfinland.fco.gov.uk/sv/
	http://ukinfrance.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinfrance.fco.gov.uk/fr/
	http://ukingambia.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukingeorgia.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukingeorgia.fco.gov.uk/ka/
	http://ukingermany.fco.gov.uk/de/
	http://ukingermany.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinghana.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukingreece.fco.gov.uk/el/
	http://ukingreece.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinguatemala.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinguatemala.fco.gov.uk/es/
	http://ukinguyana.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinholysee.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinhongkong.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinhongkong.fco.gov.uk/zh/
	http://ukinhungary.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinhungary.fco.gov.uk/hu
	http://ukiniceland.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinindia.fco.gov.uk/en
	http://ukinindia.fco.gov.uk/hi/
	http://ukinindonesia.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukiniran.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukiniran.fco.gov.uk/fa/
	http://ukiniraq.fco.gov.uk/ar/
	http://ukiniraq.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinisrael.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinisrael.fco.gov.uk/he/
	http://ukinitaly.fco.gov.uk/en
	http://ukinitaly.fco.gov.uk/it/
	http://ukinjamaica.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinjapan.fco.gov.uk/en
	http://ukinjapan.fco.gov.uk/ja
	http://ukinjerusalem.fco.gov.uk/ar/
	http://ukinjerusalem.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinjordan.fco.gov.uk/ar/
	http://ukinjordan.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinkenya.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinkosovo.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinkuwait.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinkz.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinkz.fco.gov.uk/ru/
	http://ukinlaos.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinlatvia.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinlatvia.fco.gov.uk/lv/
	http://ukinlebanon.fco.gov.uk/ar/
	http://ukinlebanon.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinlibya.fco.gov.uk/ar/
	http://ukinlibya.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinlithuania.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinlithuania.fco.gov.uk/lt/
	http://ukinluxembourg.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinmacedonia.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinmadagascar.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinmalawi.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinmalaysia.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinmaldives.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinmalta.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinmauritius.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinmexico.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinmexico.fco.gov.uk/es/
	http://ukinmoldova.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinmoldova.fco.gov.uk/ro/
	http://ukinmoldova.fco.gov.uk/ru/
	http://ukinmongolia.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinmontenegro.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinmontserrat.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinmorocco.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinmorocco.fco.gov.uk/fr/
	http://ukinmozambique.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinmozambique.fco.gov.uk/pt/
	http://ukinnamibia.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinnepal.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinnewzealand.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinnigeria.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinnl.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinnl.fco.gov.uk/nl/
	http://ukinnorway.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinoman.fco.gov.uk/ar/
	http://ukinoman.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinpakistan.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinpakistan.fco.gov.uk/ur/
	http://ukinpanama.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinpanama.fco.gov.uk/es/
	http://ukinperu.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinperu.fco.gov.uk/es/
	http://ukinpng.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinpoland.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinpoland.fco.gov.uk/pl/
	http://ukinportugal.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinportugal.fco.gov.uk/pt/
	http://ukinqatar.fco.gov.uk/ar/
	http://ukinqatar.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinrok.fco.gov.uk/en
	http://ukinrok.fco.gov.uk/ko
	http://ukinromania.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinromania.fco.gov.uk/ro/
	http://ukinrussia.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinrussia.fco.gov.uk/ru/
	http://ukinrwanda.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinsaudiarabia.fco.gov.uk/ar/
	http://ukinsaudiarabia.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinsenegal.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinsenegal.fco.gov.uk/fr/
	http://ukinserbia.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinserbia.fco.gov.uk/sr/
	http://ukinseychelles.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinsierraleone.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinsingapore.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinslovakia.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinslovakia.fco.gov.uk/sk/
	http://ukinslovenia.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinsolomonislands.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinsouthafrica.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/es/
	http://ukinsrilanka.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinsrilanka.fco.gov.uk/si/
	http://ukinsudan.fco.gov.uk/ar/
	http://ukinsudan.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinsweden.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinswitzerland.fco.gov.uk/de/
	http://ukinswitzerland.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinsyria.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukintaiwan.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukintaiwan.fco.gov.uk/zh/
	http://ukintajikistan.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukintajikistan.fco.gov.uk/ru/
	http://ukintanzania.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukintanzania.fco.gov.uk/sw/
	http://ukinthailand.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinthailand.fco.gov.uk/th/
	http://ukinthephilippines.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukintt.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukintunisia.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukintunisia.fco.gov.uk/fr/
	http://ukinturkey.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinturkey.fco.gov.uk/tr/
	http://ukinturkmenistan.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinturkmenistan.fco.gov.uk/ru/
	http://ukinturkmenistan.fco.gov.uk/tk/
	http://ukinuae.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinuganda.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinukraine.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinukraine.fco.gov.uk/uk/
	http://ukinuruguay.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinuruguay.fco.gov.uk/es/
	http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinuzbekistan.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinuzbekistan.fco.gov.uk/ru/
	http://ukinvenezuela.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinvenezuela.fco.gov.uk/es/
	http://ukinvietnam.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinvietnam.fco.gov.uk/vi/
	http://ukinyemen.fco.gov.uk/ar/
	http://ukinyemen.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukinzambia.fco.gov.uk/en
	http://ukinzimbabwe.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://uknato.fco.gov.uk/en
	http://ukoecd.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukun.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukunarmscontrol.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://ukungeneva.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://www.actoncopenhagen.decc.gov.uk/en/
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/ar/
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/ur/
	http://www.londonsummit.gov.uk/en/
	http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/
	Information on the governance of the above websites and their URLs can be found at:
	http://digitaldiplomacy.fco.gov.uk/en/guidance/controls/domain-names
	The website URL for the FCO's Trading Fund, FCO Services, is:
	http://www.fcoservices.gov.uk/eng/
	and they also run a recruitment site at:
	http://www.fcoscareers.co.uk/
	The website for the FCO's public diplomacy agency, Wilton Park, will join the main FCO platform shortly-its URL is:
	www.wiltonpark.org.uk
	Other public bodies that report to the Department (the BBC World Service and the British Council) have their own Boards of Trustees and manage their own web presences (their URLs are:
	http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice
	and
	http://www.britishcouncil.org/new/)

North Korea: Diplomatic Relations

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest assessment is of the state of the UK's diplomatic relationship with North Korea.

Jeremy Browne: The UK's diplomatic relationship with North Korea is one of carefully targeted critical engagement. We have serious concerns on a range of issues, not least its nuclear programme. We have strongly condemned North Korea's sinking of the South Korean navy vessel Cheonan. We also challenge North Korea on human rights abuses at every opportunity.
	But we also seek engagement with North Korea to address these concerns and to help North Koreans develop knowledge of the outside world. For example we work with the British Council to train English language teachers in universities in Pyongyang.

Overseas Territories Consultative Council

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to hold an Overseas Territories Consultative Council in 2010.

Henry Bellingham: We are currently considering how Overseas Territory leaders might best engage with Ministers and senior officials in the UK.

Pakistan: Religious Freedom

Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Pakistan on the treatment of Ahmadi Muslims in that country.

Alistair Burt: The UK shares the deep concern felt about the terrible attacks in Lahore recently which killed over 90 people, and injured over 100. On 28 May, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said
	the British Government utterly condemns the attacks in Lahore, which have led to the loss of so many innocent lives. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. The attacks are a reminder of the importance of the international community working with Pakistan to tackle the threat of violent extremism.
	Consular staff at our High Commission in Islamabad provided support to the family of the British National who was killed in the attack. Senior officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) have met with representatives of the Ahmadiyya community in the UK. The Minister for South Asia, Mr. Alistair Burt, will be meeting the leadership of the community at the FCO in the near future to discuss the concerns of the Ahmadiyya community in detail.
	Our High Commissioner in Islamabad has raised the attacks and the discrimination suffered by the Ahmadiyya Community with the Chief Minister of Punjab alongside his EU colleagues. Our High Commission has raised the issue bilaterally with the Pakistani authorities, including with the Ministries for Minorities and of the Interior.

Somalia: Piracy

Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment is of progress towards securing the release of Paul and Rachel Chandler.

Alistair Burt: We are monitoring the situation very closely and doing everything we properly can to help secure Paul and Rachel Chandler's return. I am not able to go into operational detail about our efforts but Government Officials in our High Commission in Nairobi and the UK continue to talk to anyone who can help. Foreign and Commonwealth Office Consular staff are in regular contact with the family of Paul and Rachel, and we continue to provide consular support to them.

South America: Embassies

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2010,  Official Report, column 27W, on South America: embassies, for what reason he has no plans for the future of posts in  (a) Peru,  (b) Colombia,  (c) Venezuela,  (d) Uruguay and  (e) Chile; what budget has been set for each post in each such country in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Browne: The budgets for the next three financial years for all overseas posts will be determined by this year's comprehensive spending review. However, it is too early to forecast where or what changes might be made. It is for that reason that we have no existing plans for the future of diplomatic posts in the countries mentioned.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Constituencies

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what public consultation will take place before proposals are made for the redrawing of electoral boundaries.

Mark Harper: The Government have announced that they will introduce legislation to provide for the creation of fewer and more equally sized constituencies. Further details will be announced in due course and the Government will seek to frame the legislation in a way that ensures that the boundary commissions can complete their task in a timely, fair and thorough way.

General Election 2010: Fraud

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his most recent estimate is of the incidence of  (a) postal and  (b) proxy vote fraud in the May 2010 general election.

Mark Harper: The Electoral Commission and Association of Chief Police Officers are collating information on allegations of electoral malpractice reported to police forces across the UK. Indicative, interim information on electoral malpractice will be given in the Electoral Commission's formal report on the administration of the general election across the UK, which is due to be published in July. The Electoral Commission and Association of Chief Police Officers will produce a joint report on allegations of electoral malpractice at the end of the year.

House of Lords: Reform

Chris Bryant: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he plans a reformed House of Lords to be a wholly or substantially elected second Chamber.

Mark Harper: The Deputy Prime Minister informed the House on 7 June,  Official Report, column 47, that he will chair a committee comprising members of all three major political parties in both Houses. This committee will consider proposals for a wholly or mainly elected second chamber. The committee will be charged with producing a draft Bill by no later than the end of this year. The draft Bill will then be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by a Joint Committee of both Houses.

Members: Conduct

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to announce the mechanism by which members of the public may exercise a right to recall hon. Members in cases of serious financial wrongdoing; and when he plans to announce a definition of serious financial wrongdoing.

Nicholas Clegg: The coalition agreement provides that we will bring forward legislation to introduce a power of recall, allowing voters to force a by-election where an MP is found to have engaged in serious wrongdoing and has had a petition calling for a by-election signed by 10% of his or her constituents.
	We are looking into exactly what would be the fairest, most appropriate and most robust procedure. I shall outline those plans very soon.

Political Parties: Finance

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what account will be taken of the Hayden Phillips proposals in his proposed review of political party funding.

Nicholas Clegg: As I indicated during the debate on the Address on 7 June 2010,  Official Report, column 42, the Government will pursue an agreement on limiting donations and reforming party funding to remove big money from politics. We will have regard to the previous cross party talks when considering this reform. Our approach to party funding is being worked up as part of the overall programme of reforms, and an announcement will be made in due course.

TREASURY

Banks: Finance

John Pugh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of Government support for the banking and financial sector.

Mark Hoban: HM Treasury will publish an updated estimate of the cost of financial sector interventions in future Budgets.

Banks: Loans

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent assessment is of levels of bank lending to small and medium-sized enterprises in  (a) England and  (b) the West Midlands; and what steps he plans to take to increase such levels .

Mark Hoban: holding answer 10 June 2010
	 The Government are committed to developing effective proposals to ensure the flow of credit to viable SMEs. This includes consideration of both a major loan guarantee scheme and the use of net lending targets for the nationalised banks.

Charities: Schools

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the amount of revenue which would accrue to the Exchequer if charitable status was removed from privately-funded schools.

Justine Greening: It is not possible to ascertain the amount of reliefs claimed by private schools because HMRC records do not distinguish amounts repaid to or claimed by charities according to type of charity.

Child Trust Fund

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for Child Trust Fund accounts after 1 January 2011.

Mark Hoban: To help reduce the Budget deficit, the Government intend to reduce and then stop all Government contributions into Child Trust Funds. It is intended that vouchers to open new accounts will no longer be issued for children born from January 2011.
	Existing Child Trust Funds will continue to operate as before, although without any further Government contributions. They will continue to be Child Trust Fund accounts until the child's 18th birthday, with no withdrawals permitted; they will continue to benefit from tax free investment growth; and friends and family will continue to be able to contribute up to a total of £1,200 a year to each Child Trust Fund.

Departmental Internet

Tom Watson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the URL is of each website managed by  (a) his Department and  (b) each non-departmental public body and agency for which his Department is responsible.

Justine Greening: The URLs for the department's websites and each of the non-departmental public bodies and agencies are detailed below:
	 HM Treasury department website:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk
	Invest to Save Budget:
	http://www.isb.gov.uk
	This site is being migrated and integrated into the HM Treasury Department website as part of transformational Government.
	 Independent and non-departmental public bodies and agencies;
	Office for Budget Responsibility:
	http://budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk
	UK Financial Investments Ltd:
	http://www.ukfi.co.uk
	UK Financial Sector Continuity:
	http://www.fsc.gov.uk
	 HM Revenue and Customs operate the following websites:
	HM Revenue and Customs:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk
	Child Trust Fund:
	http://www.childtrustfund.gov.uk
	UK Trade Info:
	http://www.uktradeinfo.com
	The Valuation Office Agency (VOA):
	http://www.voa.gov.uk
	My Business Rates:
	http://www.mybusinessrates.gov.uk/wales
	Local Housing Allowance:
	https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk
	Business Link:
	www.businesslink.gov.uk
	Northern Ireland Business Info:
	www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk
	Business Gateway (Scotland):
	www.bgateway.com
	Flexible Support for Business (Wales):
	http://www.fs4b.wales.gov.uk
	The remaining websites are managed independently of either HM Treasury or HMRC.
	The Debt Management Office (DMO):
	http://www.dmo.gov.uk
	Government Actuary's Department:
	http://www.gad.gov.uk
	National Savings and Investments:
	http://www.nsandi.com
	The Royal Mint:
	http://www.royalmint.com

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what timetable he has set for providing compensation to Equitable Life policyholders; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: We will establish an independently designed payment scheme that is transparent and fair to both taxpayers and policyholders.
	Sir John Chadwick is due to submit his final report to the Treasury by mid July. Whilst Sir John finalises his report, the Government will consult with others on the next stage of the process.
	The Government will then publish Sir John's report alongside a detailed update, giving next steps towards implementing an independently designed payment scheme.

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

Mark Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of people in  (a) Wales,  (b) England,  (c) Scotland and  (d) Northern Ireland likely to be affected by the proposed scheme to compensate Equitable Life policyholders.

Mark Hoban: Approximately 1.5 million people have been affected by the accepted maladministration of Equitable Life during the relevant period. There has been no analysis to date of the distribution across the UK of those who have suffered losses.
	We have committed to establishing an independently designed payment scheme that is transparent and fair to both taxpayers and policyholders.
	We are working hard to address the situation quickly, while ensuring that our approach is thorough and fair.

Financial Services Authority: Pay

Iain Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 10 June 2010,  Official Report, column 15WS, on Financial Services Authority (Annual Report), what the breakdown is of the other emoluments and benefits paid to  (a) Hector Sants,  (b) Sally Dewar and  (c) Jon Pain in addition to the salary and performance-related bonus paid to each.

Mark Hoban: The matter concerned is the responsibility of the Financial Services Authority (FSA), whose day-to-day operations are independent from Government control and influence. I have asked the FSA to write to the hon. Member on the issue he raises.

Foreign Investment in UK

Karen Lumley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase foreign direct investment in the economy in  (a) Redditch and  (b) nationally.

Edward Davey: I have been asked to reply.
	 (a) In order to maximise high value investment into the UK, including Redditch, the Government will ensure a sound fiscal policy and an excellent environment for business.
	 (b) UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) is the Government organisation that leads on attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the UK. UKTI delivers consistently excellent, highly professional service throughout the investment process and uses the global network of embassies, high commissions and consulates to assist targeted, high quality investment to come to the UK.

Office for Budget Responsibility

John Pugh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what salary will be paid to Sir Alan Budd in his capacity as head of the Office for Budget Responsibility; and for what bonus payments he will be eligible.

Justine Greening: Sir Alan Budd has been appointed by the Treasury as an independent adviser to provide services in connection with its fiscal policies, acting as chair of the Budget Responsibility Committee of the interim Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) and advising on the establishment of a permanent OBR.
	Sir Alan Budd is receiving payment at a rate of £2,885 per week (excluding value added tax) for the performance of these services. He is not eligible for a bonus.
	The release of this information is consistent with the Government's approach to transparency on public sector pay, and in line with the publication on 1 June of high-earning civil servants' salaries.

Public Finance

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to  (a) analyse the distributional impact of public expenditure cuts he is considering and  (b) publish the analysis.

Danny Alexander: The Government set out in their document Spending Review Framework that they will
	look closely at the effects of its decisions on different groups in society, especially the least well off, and on different regions.
	(2.4, page 7)
	Further information will be available at the spending review.

Public Finance

Maria Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria are being used in his review of the capital expenditure projects announced between 1 January 2010 and the dissolution of the last Parliament; when the reviews will be concluded; and when decisions on each project will be announced.

Danny Alexander: The Government are re-assessing spending approvals granted between 1 January 2010 and the general election to ensure that they offer good value for money and are consistent with the Government's priorities. Further announcements will be made in due course.

Research and Development Tax Credit: Environment Protection

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was claimed in research and development tax credits by  (a) clean technology companies and  (b) green technology companies in 2008-09.

Justine Greening: Information on R and D tax credits is not yet available for 2008-09. The most recent National Statistics, published on the HMRC website on 18 December 2009, cover financial years up to 2007-08.
	Information on claims for R and D tax credits by clean technology and green technology companies is not available because the data are broken down by industry sector using the UK Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities (SIC). Clean technology and green technology are not identified as separate sectors in this classification.

Tax Avoidance and Evasion

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the annual amount lost to the Exchequer consequent on tax  (a) avoidance and  (b) evasion; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) estimates that the overall tax gap was £40 billion in 2007-08. Detail on how this estimate was produced is set out in detail in 'Measuring Tax Gaps 2009', available at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/measuring-tax-gaps.pdf
	It is also available in the House of Commons Library.
	'Protecting Tax Revenues 2009' builds on this analysis using management assumptions to allocate the tax gap to different forms of non-compliance; available at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/pbr2009/protect-tax-revenue-5450.pdf
	Avoidance is estimated to account for 17.5% of the overall tax gap. Evasion accounts for a further 17.5% and the hidden economy, a form of evasion where the source of income is unknown to HMRC, a further 7.5% of the tax gap.

Taxation: Aviation

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with representatives of the aviation industry on the possible impact of a per-plane tax on  (a) their levels of business and  (b) their competitiveness; and if he will make a statement.;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with  (a) the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and  (b) the Secretary of State for Transport on the likely effect on the aviation industry of the introduction of a per-plane tax, with particular respect to freight carriers; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with Ministers in  (a) the Scottish Executive,  (b) the Welsh Assembly Government and  (c) the Northern Ireland Executive on the likely effect on the business levels and competitiveness of aviation companies in those countries of a per-plane tax.

Justine Greening: holding answer 14 June 2010
	The coalition agreement includes an intention to switch from a per-passenger to a per-plane duty. The Government are considering options for doing so, and welcomes the views of interested parties. As part of this process, the Chancellor takes representations from a range of interested parties, including Ministers from other Departments and from devolved Administrations.

EDUCATION

Apprentices: West Midlands

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he plans to alter the number of 16 and 17 year-olds who  (a) start and  (b) complete apprenticeships in (i) Dudley and (ii) the west midlands; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: We intend to increase the number of apprenticeship places for people of all ages. We are committed to improving the quality of apprenticeships to make them better suited to the needs of employers and learners, and to increasing the number of advanced apprenticeships.

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what recent discussions have been held by his Department with Essex Education Authority on proposals for the reorganisation of secondary schools in Colchester; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans he has for the future of the Building Schools for the Future programme; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 2 June 2010
	Officials in the then Department for Children, Schools and Families had discussions about the reorganisation of secondary school education in Colchester with Essex Education Authority between early 2008 and March 2010. The Sir Charles Lucas School is due to become an academy in September 2010. Other aspects of the reorganisation of secondary education in Colchester are currently linked to the Building Schools for the Future programme. The Department is currently reviewing the Building Schools for the Future programme to ensure that we can build schools more effectively and more cost-efficiently in the future.

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of the effect of reductions in public expenditure on  (a) schools and  (b) school building plans in Nottingham.

Nick Gibb: In his announcement of the package on 2010-11 in year savings on 24 May 2010 the Chancellor of the Exchequer made clear that spending on Schools, Sure Start and education for 16 to 19-year-olds would be protected from these in-year cuts. The Department is currently reviewing the Building Schools for the Future programme to ensure that we can build schools more effectively and more cost-efficiently in the future.

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Edward Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what recent representations he has received from local authorities on plans for the Buildings Schools for the Future programme;
	(2)  which Buildings Schools for the Future projects in which local authority areas have been put on hold; and how much had been spent on each such project prior to its suspension.

Nick Gibb: The Department has received a number of representations from local authorities (LAs) on plans for the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.
	The Department is currently reviewing the Building Schools for the Future programme to ensure that we can build schools more effectively and more cost-efficiently in the future.
	The Department has not placed any BSF projects in any local authority area on hold.

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects to determine the future of the Building Schools for the Future programme  (a) for secondary education in Cornwall and  (b) nationally.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 9 June 2010
	The Department is currently reviewing the Building Schools for the Future programme to ensure that we can build schools more effectively and more cost-efficiently in the future.

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what plans he has for schools in Dudley to be included in the Building Schools for the Future programme; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans he has for the future of Building Schools for the Future programme; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The Department is currently reviewing the Building Schools for the Future programme to ensure that we can build schools more effectively and more cost-efficiently in the future.

Building Schools for the Future Programme:  North-East

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for the future of the  (a) Building Schools for the Future and  (b) Primary Capital Programme in (i) Hartlepool constituency and (ii) the North-East region; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The Department is currently reviewing the Building Schools for the Future programme to ensure that we can build schools more effectively and more cost-efficiently in the future.

Children: Databases

Edward Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment his Department has made on the effects on practitioner time expended per child of the introduction of the ContactPoint database.

Tim Loughton: The Department has made no assessment of the effect of introducing ContactPoint on practitioner time spent on each child.

Pupil Premium

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether young people studying in further education institutions will be eligible for the proposed pupil premium planned for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Nick Gibb: The pupil premium will initially apply to pre-16 pupils in schools and therefore not to those in further education institutions. We will announce further details about the operation of the pupil premium in due course.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Departmental Official Cars

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the use by Ministers in her Department of cars allocated from  (a) her Department's pool and  (b) the Government car pool which are manufactured in the UK; whether Ministers in her Department are entitled to request the use of a car manufactured in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend for Hemel Hempstead Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mike Penning), 14 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 290-91W.

Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what  (a) legislative and  (b) other proposals she plans to bring into effect the decision to end charges for household waste.

Richard Benyon: Under Part 5 of the Climate Change Act 2008, no local authority may introduce charges to householders (in order to incentivise household waste reduction and recycling) without the permission of the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State intends to bring forward any necessary changes to the legislation to encourage local authorities to incentivise householders with rewards and not charges.

JUSTICE

Courts: Salford

Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to ensure the provision of a courthouse in Salford.

Jonathan Djanogly: HM Courts Service (HMCS) continually keeps the use and condition of its estate under review. Decisions relating to the provision of courthouses in any area are informed by responses to public consultation. Since November 2009 HMCS has deferred a number of court building schemes; including one at Salford. Like the rest of Government HMCS needs to ensure that all future building projects are affordable and offer value for money for the taxpayer. In line with standard practice, any scheme to build a new court in Salford will be assessed as part of Government investment and governance procedures.

Departmental Pay

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was paid in bonuses to civil servants in his Department in 2009-10.

Kenneth Clarke: Non-consolidated performance pay is paid to employees in the Ministry of Justice to recognise outstanding performance through the year (or for staff in grades below the SCS on specific occasions during the year).
	 Senior civil service
	Performance related pay is awarded to senior civil servants (SCS) in line with recommendations made by the Senior Salaries Review Body.
	Non-consolidated performance-related payments are made as part of the SCS annual pay award to those whose performance has exceeded agreed delivery objectives during the previous performance year. The amount paid in 2009-10 was £1,375,000. There is no in-year provision.
	 Other staff
	With the exception of staff working in the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), in grades below the SCS, staff in the Ministry of Justice are employed on common terms and conditions.
	For staff in grades below the SCS non-consolidated performance pay may be awarded either at the 'end of year' or 'in year'. Awards of 'end of year' non consolidated performance pay are made as part of the annual pay award to staff whose performance over the course of the year has been judged as outstanding. 'In year' non consolidated performance payments are made to staff in recognition of specific contributions during the year over and above the contribution expected for someone in a particular role.
	During 2009-10 £1,923,600 was paid in 'end of year' non-consolidated performance pay, excluding staff working in the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) for whom Information will not be available before August. Information about 'in year' non-consolidated performance pay for 2009-10 is not yet available, other than for NOMS for the nine months up to 31 December 2009, during which time it awarded payments amounting to £1,612,200. This figure has not yet been validated and further data will be collected and checked.
	Final information will be provided to the House of Commons Library as soon as it is available.

Rape: Disclosure of Information

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what evidence on the introduction of anonymity for defendants in rape cases he considered before the announcement of the policy.

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what consultation took place on the proposal to afford anonymity for those accused of rape; and if he will make a statement.

Kenneth Clarke: The proposal to grant anonymity to defendants in rape trials was included within the coalition agreement following negotiations between the two coalition partners. All of the policy commitments made by the coalition Government were derived from the existing policy of one or both of the governing parties. The issue of anonymity for defendants in rape trials was adopted as party policy by the Liberal Democrat party while in opposition. It was also the subject of an extensive inquiry by the Home Affairs Select Committee, in its fifth report published on 24 June 2003.

Repossession Orders: Harlow

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many court orders for the repossession of homes in each ward in the Harlow constituency were issued in each year from 1997 to 2009.

Jonathan Djanogly: The following table shows the numbers of claims leading to orders being made for the repossession of property in the Harlow constituency by mortgage lenders in each year since 2000 and landlords in each year since 2003. Data for previous years are not available due to the lack of valid postcodes. These statistics are not available at smaller geographies. We are currently investigating how we can put these into the public domain without inadvertently revealing the identities of people who are subject to a possession order. I will write to the hon. Member when we have concluded this investigation.
	These figures represent the numbers of claims leading to orders being made. This is more accurate than the number of orders, removing the double-counting of instances where a single claim leads to more than one order. It is also a more meaningful measure of the number of homeowners who are subject to court repossession actions.
	These figures do not indicate how many properties have actually been repossessed. Repossessions can occur without a court order, such as where borrowers hand the keys back to the lender. Also, not all possession orders result in repossession. Many orders are suspended and if the borrower complies with the repayment arrangements set out in the suspended order the property will not be repossessed.
	Tables showing the numbers of possession claims leading to an order in each constituency of England and Wales and in each year since 2000 for mortgages and 2003 for landlords have been placed in the Library of the House.
	
		
			  Number of mortgage( 1)  and landlord( 2, 3 ) possession claims leading to orders made( 4, 5, 6, 7 ) for properties in Harlow constituency, 2000-09 
			   Mortgage possession  Landlord possession 
			 2000 75 - 
			 2001 70 - 
			 2002 85 - 
			 2003 95 270 
			 2004 115 275 
			 2005 165 270 
			 2006 190 240 
			 2007 190 230 
			 2008 220 245 
			 2009 130 215 
			 (1) Includes all types of mortgage lenders. (2) Includes all types of landlord whether social or private. (3) Landlord actions include those made under both standard and accelerated procedures. Landlord actions via the accelerated procedure enables the orders to be made solely on the basis of written evidence for shorthold tenancies, when the fixed period of tenancy has come to an end. (4) The number of claims that lead to an order includes all claims in which the first order, whether outright or suspended, is made during the period. (5) The court, following a judicial hearing, may grant an order for possession immediately. This entitles the claimant to apply for a warrant to have the defendant evicted. However, even where a warrant for possession is issued, the parties can still negotiate a compromise to prevent eviction. (6) Includes outright and suspended orders, the latter being where the court grants the claimant possession but suspends the operation of the order. Provided the defendant complies with the terms of suspension, which usually require the defendant to pay the current mortgage or rent instalments plus some of the accrued arrears, the possession order cannot be enforced. (7) Due to the lack of postcode information for landlord possession cases figures for 2000-03 are not available and have been represented with a -.  Note: All figures are rounded to the nearest five.  Source: Ministry of Justice